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[h=4]Israelis vote as Netanyahu rejects Palestinian state[/h]JERUSALEM — Voters in Israel headed to the polls Tuesday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not allow a Palestinian state to be established if he is returned to power.
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Israelis voted Tuesday in an election expected to be a close-fought battle between the centre left and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who ruled out a Palestinian state in a last-ditch appeal to the right. Duration: 01:19
Video provided by AFP Newslook
Vandalized posters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near a polling station.(Photo: Abir Sultan, European Pressphoto Agency)
JERUSALEM — Israelis voted in a critical election Tuesday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to oppose creation of a Palestinian state if he is given a fourth term.
Netanyahu's opposition to a Palestinian state, a reversal of his past position, appeared to be a last-minute gamble to save his job by rallying hard-line nationalists to support his right-wing Likud Party.
The prime minister, whose party was trailing a left-center coalition in pre-election polls, announced his opposition to a Palestinian state Monday and reiterated that pledge early Tuesday after casting his ballot.
His reversal marks a second flash point with the Obama administration, which has been prodding Israel and Palestinians to make progress in peace talks on creation of an independent Palestinian state.
More recently, Netanyahu and President Obama have clashed over U.S. talks with Iran on curbing that country's nuclear program. The Israeli prime minister says Iran can't be trusted to halt a program that he contends is intended to build nuclear weapons and threaten Israel's existence.
USA TODAY
Netanyahu appeals to backers to avert defeat Tuesday
In a video statement on his Facebook page Tuesday, Netanyahu said: "Right wing rule is in danger. Arab voters are going to the polls in droves. Left wing organizations are bringing them in buses," the Associated Press reported. "With your help, and with the help of God, we will build a nationalist government that will protect the state of Israel," he said.
About 37% of Israel's nearly 6 million eligible voters had cast ballots by 2 p.m. local time, down slightly from the 2013 election.
Zionist Union chairman Isaac Herzog, whose coalition was ahead in the polls, told reporters when he voted Tuesday morning: "These elections are about change and hope or despair and disappointment."
In a phone interview on the Channel 10 TV, Netanyahu ruled out forming a coalition government with Herzog saying he would seek an alliance with the ultra-national Jewish Home party, which also opposes Palestinian statehood, according to the AP.
USA TODAY
Netanyahu rival: A contrast in substance and style
Under Israel's electoral system, the leader of the party that gets the most seats in the 120-member parliament, called the Knesset, is given the opportunity to create a governing coalition of at least 61 seats by forming alliances with other parties.
Herzog would get that chance if his party comes out ahead, but if he fails to line up a majority of Knesset seats, Netanyahu could still come back to power by forming his own coalition.
Exit polls will be announced when voting ends at 10 p.m. local time (4 p.m. ET). Official results won't be completed until Wednesday.
Netanyahu's opponents staged a last-minute move of their own to win more support for the Zionist Union from centrist voters. On Monday night, Tzipi Livni, the party's co-leader, announced she was willing to forgo rotating the prime minister post with Herzog. Media reports have cited internal Zionist Union polls showing that the prospect of Livni serving as prime minister could cost the party votes.
USA TODAY
Netanyahu fights to stave off election defeat
Another wild card in the election is the vote of Israeli Arab citizens, who make up 20% of Israel's population. For the first time, four Arab parties are uniting as one party, the Joint List. According to the Joint List party, 10% of Arabs citizens voted by 11 a.m. local time, up from 3% at the same time in the 2013 election.
While the Joint List leadership has vowed not to join either a right- or left-wing government, it could gain enough seats to block Netanyahu's attempt to form a majority coalition. Polls showed the Arab coalition would win 13 seats, up from the 11 Arab parties won two years ago.
Ayman Oudeh, head of the Joint List, expressed pride at the opportunity to influence the Israeli election.
"Like every Arab citizen today, I'm excited to vote and be a part of history at a turning point that will fundamentally change the reality of life, specifically for Arab citizens but for all citizens in the country, as well," he said as he voted accompanied by his young children.
"I call on everyone to go out and vote this morning, and to believe that it can be better here. That we, Arabs and Jews, can create a better future for our children," he said.
Final polls released Friday showed Likud trailing the Zionist Union by two to four seats in the Knesset. Although Netanyahu is favored on security issues, voters prefer Herzog on domestic concerns, such as the high cost of living, which is resonating as a top issue in this election.
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