Massive Israel voter turnout and Netanyahu battles for political survival

Massive Israel voter turnout and Netanyahu battles for political survival Israeli officials reports a major 15% increase on voter turnout as the wartime country decides on whether Benjamin Netanyahu should stay in power or make way for a new leader Millions of Israelis are casting their vote today as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fights for his future in a close run battle for leadership. By 10am local time an astonishing 1.2 million Israelis had cast their vote - a 15% election turnout increase on other poll events as Netanyahu fights rival Gadi Eisenkot. Today’s historical election - against a grim backdrop of war in Gaza, looming conflict with Iran and Hezbollah - is likely to be the biggest turnout since 1981. As many as 70,000 Israelis are believed to have flown home to take part in the elections amid tightened security, with tensions escalating across the West Bank. By 10 am it was reported that 30% of Israeli ’s serving soldiers had cast their vote but there were also claims of election fraud at 115 of 12,018 polling stations. Netanyahu is thought to be slightly behind Eisenkot, although their parties Likud and Yashar are extremely unlikely to win the 61 seat majority required to form a government. To gain a majority they will have to form coalitions with smaller parties in horse-trading for positions which may last weeks before a new Prime Minister is declared. Polling today opened at 7am and closes at 10pm local time, with exit polls likely to emerge shortly afterwards, heralding a fresh struggle for the leadership. Polls by companies, TV stations and press across Israel appear to put Eisenkot’s Yashar ahead with more than 50 seats, with Likud trailing with several fewer positions. There is a possibility neither Netanyahu’s religious and ultranationalist coalition nor the opposition bloc looking to unseat him has enough support to win a parliamentary majority. That could set off weeks of negotiations before a leader is declared. If that happens behind-the-scenes negotiations with smaller parties will take place as both are forced to compromise to gain a coalition sufficient to form a government. The vote comes down to one main question on whether Israelis want to end Netanyahu’s grip on regional politics after so many years and at least three years of warfare. There have been newspaper allegations that Netanyahu was warned by Arab neighbours that Hamas was preparing a major operation before the October 7 attacks. Netanyahu denies this and has promoted the major conflict victories his government has achieved following the attacks by Gaza-based Hamas, which killed 1,200. The ensuing war in Gaza has killed at least 70,000 Palestinians. Growing tension in the West bank has led to a major security clampdown and operations by Israeli Defence Force troops, focusing on the flashpoint city of Hebron. And under Netanyahu’s leadership settler violence has gone on the increase.