Israel votes again as Netanyahu awaits trial

Benjamin Netanyahu makes a last-ditch appeal for votes at a pre-election rally in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Photo: AP

Israelis were set to vote for a third time in twelve months on Monday, with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to end the country's political crisis and save his career.



The vote comes just two weeks before the right-wing premier stands trial over a series of corruption allegations, but final polls indicated his support was holding, suggesting another close race between his Likud and the centrist Blue and White party.



Both will fall well short of a majority in Israel's proportional system and the winner will seek to form a coalition with multiple smaller parties.



After elections in both April and September last year neither were able to do so, and a similar deadlock remains possible.



With few undecided voters in a divided country, turnout will be key and all parties were campaigning to get their vote out on Sunday.



Netanyahu, in power since 2009, said on Sunday that internal polls suggested they were close to winning and finally breaking the political deadlock.



"We are very close to victory," Israel's longest-serving premier told a press conference. "Leave your homes and vote Likud."



Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, a former military general, urged supporters to vote and end Netanyahu's divisive rule.



"You can't just sit at home clicking your tongue, saying 'what's happening here,'" Gantz told public radio on Sunday. "Get out and vote." (AFP)