Israel braces to go the polls as Benjamin Netanyahu faces nail-biting race

Israel braces to go the polls as Benjamin Netanyahu faces nail-biting race Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces fight of his political career as Israel goes to the polls, and opposition bloc appears to have the edge, prompting intense coalition talks Trouble-hit Israel’s elections look set for deadlock as the country goes to the polls in what many believe is the most important vote of the country’s history. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party and the main opposition bloc Yashar, headed by Gadi Eisenkot, look like they are running an extremely tight race. Close to 70,000 Israelis are believed to be flying home to take part in the elections as there is no postal vote and exit polls will emerge soon after Tuesday 10pm. A major security clampdown has been ordered throughout the country amid fears of growing unrest and military operations across the West Bank and over the Gaza War. Latest polling suggests Yashar may have an edge over Likud, although it is a near-certainty neither party will win a majority sufficient to form a government. The winning party needs 61 seats to dominate the Israeli parliament’s Knesset’s 120, prompting the need for coalition-wrangling after tomorrow. Neither bloc will be able to form a government based on the projected results with one poll suggesting Netanyahu’s bloc will lose three seats falling to 48 seats compared with 54 for the opposition bloc. According to a Kantar poll personal safety and national security are the most important issues, cited by 26 per cent of respondents, followed by the economy and the cost of living, cited by 23 per cent. It is believed any future majority government would have to rely on support from parts of either the opposing bloc or the Arab parties. Arch political operator Netanyahu and his Likud Party face stiff opposition from military veteran Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar Party who brandishes a calm ‘non-politician’ image. It comes as Israel military prepares to close the West bank on election day amid major security fears and growing settler-related unrest in the territory. Israel will close crossings with the West Bank on the day of the Knesset elections as troops continue a wide military operation in Hebron. Here’s how the opposing blocs shape up against each other The pro-Netanyahu coalition led by the Prime Minister’s Likud Party joins far-right and ultra Orthodox and conservative religious right parties. These are United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas, plus – both Otzma Yehudi and Religious Zionism-Zehut, led by far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. The Likud Party campaigns highlight military wins against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, plus the close working relationship between Netanyahu and Donald Trump. But critics point toward the October 7 attacks and the intelligence bungles that led to them. It favours militarisation of Israel’s borders and judiciary changes but militarisation complicates its links to the ultra-Orthodox coalitions. United Torah Judaism (UTJ) is a long-standing Haredi Jewish party that is a loose ally of Netanyahu’s - a relationship strained over its demand that ultra- Orthodox Jews be excluded from military service. Netanyahu has performed a precarious balancing act with them, criticising the arrest of draft-dodgers, in his bid to maintain his thin majority. Shas Party is another, deeply conservative and ultra-Orthodox party which was started to focus on the interests of Haredi jews but which has also grown considerably. Central to Shas's mission is the promotion of social justice and the economic welfare of its constituents, advocating for a society structured around Jewish religious law. Otzma Yehudi is led by far right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir , who is also an illegal settler and who is in charge of Israel’s police and prison system. He has been behind draconian laws and a campaign to send Gazans abroad. Religious Zionism-Zehut, led by another far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich, who heads the government’s finance department. He is dedicated to the idea that the West Bank and Gaza Strip belong to the Jewish people. In 2006, he cofounded Regavim, an organization that monitors and takes legal action against Palestinian land use. The main opposition bloc comprises four Jewish-led opposition movements led by Yashar, which is led by former Israeli military chief Eisenkot. They are joined by the Democrats, led by former deputy military chief of staff Yair Golan, the Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by former Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman and the Together alliance, led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and joined by Knesset opposition leader Yair Lapid. Yashar is run by Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot’s whose party combines a security-focused approach with promises to rebuild public trust and strengthen democratic institutions. It demands a probe into October 7, rebuilding affected communities, military or national service for all, stronger public education and greater economic competition. Eisenkot also advocates a constitution and safeguards for an independent judiciary. The Democrats, led by former deputy military chief Yair Golan, is a liberal Zionist party championing equality for citizens of Israel, including the LGBTQ community. It has pledged to fight organised crime and promote education. The Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by former Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Is a right-wing party, originally based on Russian secular immigrants but which has widened its base into Israeli society. It is tough on the peace process but recognises a two state solution. It wants to encourage immigration and ‘aliyah’ or ‘going up’- the process for Jews moving to Israel. The Together Alliance, led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapi has competed with Yashar for the main opposition title and is merely part of the opposition bloc. This means they have not joined Yashar and are on a separate party list.