Benjamin Netanyahu says Likud close to victory in Israel

Israelis were voting for a third time in 12 months, with Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the political crisis and save his career.

Benjamin Netanyahu at a Likud meeting in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Picture: AP

Israelis were voting for a third time in 12 months on Monday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the country’s political crisis and save his career.

The vote comes just two weeks before Mr Netanyahu stands trial over a series of corruption alle­gations, but final polls indicated his support was holding, suggesting another close race between his Likud and the centrist Blue and White party.

Both will fall well short of a ­majority in Israel’s proportional system and the winner will seek to form a coalition with multiple smaller parties. After elections in April and September 2019, neither was able to do so, and a similar deadlock remains possible.

With few undecided voters in a divided country, turnout will be key and all parties campaigned to get their voters out.

Mr Netanyahu, in power since 2009, said late on Sunday internal polls suggested they were close to winning and finally breaking the political deadlock.

“We are very close to victory,” Israel’s longest-serving leader said. “Leave your homes and vote Likud.”

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, a former military chief, urged supporters to vote and end Mr Netanyahu’s rule. “You can’t just sit at home clicking your tongue, saying ‘What’s happening here?’ ” Mr Gantz told public radio. “Get out and vote.”

In April’s election, each party won 35 seats, while in September Blue and White garnered 33 against Likud’s 32.

A number of right-wing parties, including two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that last time won 17 seats between them, have already pledged to support Mr Netanyahu. The Joint List, a coalition representing Israel’s Arab minority, won 13 seats in September and backed Mr Gantz, as did some smaller left-wing parties.

Benny Gantz in Ramat Gan on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

In January, Mr Netanyahu was officially charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, becoming the first sitting Israeli leader to be indicted. The 70-year-old will face trial from March 17 on charges including receiving improper gifts worth thousands of dollars and offering a media mogul regulatory changes in exchange for favourable coverage.

Mr Netanyahu has dominated Likud for 20 years and maintains a deep loyalty in the party, easily defeating a recent leadership challenge. He has denied all charges, accusing the state prosecution and media of a witch-hunt. Polls suggest Likud’s support has held firm.

In January, US President Don­ald Trump unveiled peace proposals greenlighting Israel’s annexation of settlements and swaths of land on the West Bank, sparking Palestinian outrage. Bolstered by US support, Mr Netanyahu has campaigned on building thousands more homes in Jewish settlements in the territories.

All settlements are considered illegal by the UN and Europe. Mr Gantz has also welcomed the Trump proposals.

Despite backing Mr Gantz, the Joint List has campaigned on opposition to the Trump plan, which was immediately rejected by the Palestinian leadership.

Mr Gantz has pledged to clean up politics and focused heavily on corruption allegations against his rival.

In recent days, the campaign became particularly vicious, with a series of leaked recordings and mudslinging.

Voting is taking place despite fears over the coronavirus epidemic, with seven cases so far confirmed in the Jewish state.

Special polling booths have been erected for the 5600 Israelis under self-quarantine, many of whom visited countries where the virus is prevalent.

They are not allowed to use normal polling stations and will wear masks while voting.

In the previous two elections the right-wing and centrist-left blocs have remained roughly static in size, and polls suggest the political stasis will continue.

“It is hard to see what could convince someone who voted twice for the same party to shift this time,” said Ofer Zalzberg, an Israeli analyst at the International Crisis Group think-tank.

He said both the left and right had focused on boosting voter turnout.

“The most likely result is we wake up Tuesday morning still stuck without a clear winner.”

AFP