Israelis are set to begin voting in the country’s third election in just eleven months. The previous two votes failed to produce a government, and this one could be affected by coronavirus fears.
New mum and Tel Aviv resident Karen Reish told SBS News how she has been keeping track of when Israel’s political gridlock began.
“I was supposed to give birth on the day of the first elections and I was so stressed, because I thought ‘I won’t be able to vote!’
“This will now be the third election and my baby is 11 months old. I really hope something will change, but my feeling is it will be the same result,” she said.
This election will be different in at least one respect - it’s taking place as the country grapples with the coronavirus threat.
New mum Karen Reish hopes something will change as she votes for the third time in a year. Source: SBS News
Israel has only seven confirmed cases and has turned back visitors from some affected regions.
Anyone under quarantine, but not showing symptoms, will be able to cast their ballot at one of several specially designed voting stations.
“The vote of every citizen in Israel is a basic democratic right, it's also a duty,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“I ask you to fulfil this duty of yours, do it safely, knowing that we take care of everything that needs to be taken care of and that this virus will be really controlled. And it is controlled today."
A poll by Israel’s N12 news found 7 per cent of voters were considering staying home because of virus fears, although some think the crisis is overblown.
"I am going to vote anyway,” tech worker Danny Cohen said.
“I'm not afraid, it's all hysteria, I'm going to vote."
Mr Netanyahu heads into this election with a corruption trial hanging over his head.
In November, he was indicted on charges of bribery and fraud and his trial will begin on 17 March. He has denied any wrongdoing, blaming his problems on political rivals.
His Likud party’s base consists of nationalists and ultra-orthodox communities.
On the streets of Jerusalem’s Jewish quarter, there is still broad support for the man known as "Bibi".
Jerusalem resident David Tshuva tols SBS News he thinks Benjamin Netanyahu "is good for Israel". Source: SBS News
David Tshuva said he’ll back him because of Likud’s support for Zionist communities, and isn’t at all concerned about the corruption allegations.
“I don’t care. Every leader makes mistakes in their past. Every great guy makes some small mistakes,” he told SBS News.
“He’s good for Israel. I want him to continue to be the prime minister.”
Gidon Betzal’el owns a restaurant in one of Jerusalem’s many bustling laneways. He has taken a break to enjoy a lively political discussion with his friends, most of whom back the man who has run the country since 2009.
Gidon Betzal’el, a Jerusalem restaurant owner, said Benjamin Netanyahu is "the king of Israel". Source: SBS News
“You see all the carnival around him? This is only to shut him down. He’s an innocent guy. He’s the King of Israel. We have no one else, only Bibi.”
Mr Netanyahu’s opponent for the premiership is Benny Gantz, the leader of the centrist Blue and White Party.
A former military chief, he’s sought to make this election a referendum on his rival’s indictment. Posters appearing across Israel suggest that Mr Gantz “Takes Care of Israel”, while the Likud leader “Takes Care of Himself.”
At recent campaign events, Mr Gantz has criticised his rival’s character.
“While you were taking acting classes in New York, I was defending this country. And unlike you, I still want to keep doing so,” he told Blue and White supporters.
Mr Gantz will likely find support in Tel Aviv, where the Prime Minister is not a popular figure.
Tel Aviv resident Dan Even Zouhar told SBS News 'Israel needs change". Source: SBS News
“He should have quit four years ago,” resident Dan Even Zohar said.
“He still wants to be the prime minister because of the indictments and his legal status, but we need a change.”
Justin Kliger is an Australian, who lives in London, but is able to vote in Israel and returned to do just that.
Australian man Justin Kliger travelled from London to vote in the Israel election. Source: SBS News
He’ll be voting for a left-wing party which would likely support a Gantz-led government if required.
“It’s pretty sad that we have to go through three rounds,” he said.
“Every election for the last 10 years in Israel, there’s been a new candidate that’s popped up to try and resolve the Bibi problem, so I’m not really taken by Gantz. I think it’s really important to have a strong left component in the parliament.”
To form government in Israel, alliances between parties are needed. Opinion polling suggests that blocks led by Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz will lack the seats required to take power.
Avigdor Lieberman, head of the secular "Israel Our Home" party could play kingmaker. He has promised there will not be a fourth election, but coalition negotiations can be difficult and he’s unlikely to back a government involving far-right orthodox parties, or the Joint List of Arab parties.
Many Israelis think there’s a fair chance they’ll be heading back to the polls, once again, later this year.
Lee Shriki is tired of the seemingly never-ending political campaigning and thinks she knows why the gridlock continues.
Lee Shriki said she doesn't think anyone deserves to be Prime Minister of Israel. Source: SBS News
“I don’t think there’s anyone who deserves to be prime minister of Israel, we have a problem here."
