Deeply divided Israel braces for pivotal election
After three years of regional war, this is a battle Israel always knew was coming, writes Lucy Williamson.
Polls published on Friday put the governing coalition and the main opposition bloc almost neck-and-neck, with half a million first-time voters due to cast their ballot and some 70,000 Israelis reportedly flying in from abroad specifically to vote.
On Saturday night, vast crowds of opposition voters gathered in central Tel Aviv to demand a change of government.
"We're optimistic," 21-year-old Omri told me. "I want peace, I want security, and I want to end corruption and get the religious fanatics out."
"We need him to be re-elected so that he can finish this work," said Shlomi. "In my opinion, he is one of the best leaders in the world. Most of the world loves him and respects him, because he is a strong man and his ideas are correct."