«Israelis» Go to Polls to Decide on Bibi’s Record Reign

By Staff, Agencies

“Israelis” began voting in an election on Tuesday that could hand “Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a record fifth term or see him dethroned by an ex-general who has pledged clean government and social cohesion.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) across the country and close at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT). But the victor may not be decided immediately. No party has ever won an outright majority in the 120-seat parliament, meaning days or even weeks of coalition negotiations lie ahead.

Dubbed "King Bibi," Netanyahu has rallied a rightist camp hardened against the Palestinians and played up “Israeli” foreign policy boons that are the fruit of his ties with the Trump administration.

But the 69-year-old Likud party leader's hope of overtaking the “Israeli” entity’s founding father, David Ben-Gurion, as longest-serving premier in July has been dented by a looming graft indictment. He denies any wrongdoing.

Critics warn of "Bibi fatigue" and argue that the parliamentary election should bring fresh faces to high office.

Stalking Netanyahu in the opinion polls has been Benny Gantz, a former chief of the armed forces and centrist political novice. Buttressed by two other former generals at the top of his Blue and White party, Gantz, 59, has sought to push back against Netanyahu's self-styled image as unrivalled in national security.

With broadcast and traditional media outlets off-limits for campaigning on Election Day, Netanyahu posted a link on Twitter and Facebook and called for voters to get in touch.

"This morning I am asking to speak with you, personally, through messenger. All it takes is one click on the link. I'm waiting," he said.

Gantz, taking a different approach, shared a video of himself at the voting station set to music, without any direct comments. His party co-leader, Yair Lapid, posted a video of himself kickboxing with a note saying he was "fighting for every vote".

After the election, the entity’s president, Reuven Rivlin, will consult the leaders of every party represented in the Knesset and select the person he believes has the best chance of forming a government.