Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought re-election under the weight of an imminent corruption trial.
Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought re-election on Monday under the weight of an imminent corruption trial, with the country's third ballot in less than a year predicted to end in another deadlock.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. . Israelis have until 10 p.m. to cast their vote, at which point media outlets can publish the first exit polls and signal whether the deadlock was broken. More stalemate could push Israel, where a 2020 budget is still pending, further into economic limbo. Israel's economy has weathered the political turmoil, with growth strong and the labour market tight. But the longer the stalemate continues, the heavier the toll, including the lack of new money for health, education, welfare or infrastructure projects until an annual budget is approved by parliament.
Netanyahu has portrayed Gantz, 60, as a "coward" incapable of confronting the many dangers Israel faces in the region and has suggested that he is hiding secrets that would open him to blackmail by Iran.Drawing accusations of racism during one of Israel's most contentious campaigns, Netanyahu has played on many Israelis' suspicions about the loyalty of the country's Arab minority, which makes up 21% of the population.
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