Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid casts his vote
(Picture: REUTERS)Israelis began voting for the fifth time in less than four years on Tuesday with former leader Benjamin Netanyahu bidding to return to power.
The country’s longest-serving premier who was ousted last year is on trial on corruption charges, which he denies. But his right-wing Likud party is still expected to finish as the largest in parliament.
Security and surging prices have topped the list of voter concerns in a campaign triggered by outgoing centrist Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s decision to seek an early election following defections from his ruling coalition.
“These elections are (a choice) between the future and the past. So go out and vote today for our children’s future, for our country’s future,” Mr Lapid said after voting in the upmarket Tel Aviv neighborhood where he lives.
But a powerful new player is threatening to shake things up. Itamar Ben-Gvir, a leading far-right politician, has surged in opinion polls and will be seeking a harder line against the Palestinians if the ultranationalist Religious Zionism bloc he co-leads helps propel Mr Netanyahu to victory.
After he cast his vote in the West Bank settlement where he lives, Mr Ben-Gvir promised that a vote for his party would bring about a “fully right-wing government” with Mr Netanyahu as prime minister.
Buoyed by his followers’ almost cult-like adoration, Mr Netanyahu, 73, has rejected calls to step down by his opponents, who say someone on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes cannot govern. Mr Netanyahu denies wrongdoing.
After the votes are tallied, the parties have nearly three months to form a government. If they cannot, Israel will be facing its sixth election since 2019.
