Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party face challenges from the left and right in today's election in Israel. Netanyahu's party has slipped in recent voter surveys, with approaches to a potential Palestinian state and the economy emerging as the top issues.
Another fault line opened up over the prime minister's controversial visit and speech to the U.S. Congress, a trip that deepened tensions with the White House. Netanyahu's opponents seized on the opportunity to say they would work to strengthen ties with America's leaders to ensure their country's security.
"Netanyahu trailed in the final opinion polls [behind] the center-left Zionist Union ticket, which says it will focus on economic issues and trying to restart peace negotiations with the Palestinians," NPR's Emily Harris reports from Jerusalem. "Hours before voting started, Netanyahu came out against a Palestinian state at this time — a position long held by his main rival on the right."
The voting began this morning and will continue until 10 p.m. local time; that's when the first exit poll results should come out — around 4 p.m. ET.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz is live-blogging today's vote; it reports that in the first three hours of polls being open, nearly 14 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots. It adds that the rate is "20 percent higher" than the previous two elections.
Emily tells Morning Edition co-host Renee Montagne that if Netanyahu's party doesn't win outright, he could still remain in power.
"Even if his Likud party doesn't emerge with the most votes," she says, "he could be the one who could negotiate successfully among the 11 or 12 parties that are supposed to get in parliament, and build a coalition government out of that, with him at the helm."
Because election day is a holiday in Israel, many people are expected to get outdoors to take advantage of what Haaretz says will be nice weather.
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