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#Videocrux - Israelis voted in a tight race between Benjamin Netanyahu and Tzipi Livni. Israelis voted in a tight race between Benjamin Netanyahu and Tzipi Livni.
Israelis voted on Tuesday in a tight race between a hawkish former premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, and centrist Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, with the far-right set for major gains on the back of the Gaza war. It's all smiles for Benjamin Netanyahu. If opinion polls hold true, the right-wing hawk will once again be poised to lead Israel's government. Benjamin Netanyahu, Leader of Likud Party, "It'll be a big day; we'll have a good victory." But the ruling party Kadima won't go without a fight. Its leader, the current foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, has clawed back ground in polls in recent days. She urged voters not to be wooed by the tough talk of the right wing. Tzipi Livni, Leader of Kadima Party, "People shouldn’t think about their fears and despair; people should think of hope and what everyone wants to feel on the evening of the results." This has been a largely lack luster campaign dominated by the war in Gaza. Worries about Israel's security have in turn boosted the standing of the far-right, led by the firebrand Avigdor Lieberman, who turned out to vote in a settlement in the West Bank. Many see a vote for Lieberman as a vote against everyone else. Daniel, voter, "Every election there's a protest vote. Last election is was for the pensioners' party. This election, a lot of people are feeling frustrated as the way thngs have gone and they're giving Lieberman their vote as a protest vote."Wracked by political scandal and weakened by discontent, Israel has had five governments in the past 10 years. And with no single party expected to secure more than a third of the Knesset's seats, the country looks set for yet another fragile coalition among bitter rivals.
Benjamin poised to lead Israel's government.
Israelis voted on Tuesday in a tight race between a hawkish former premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, and centrist Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, with the far-right set for major gains on the back of the Gaza war. It's all smiles for Benjamin Netanyahu. If opinion polls hold true, the right-wing hawk will once again be poised to lead Israel's government. Benjamin Netanyahu, Leader of Likud Party, "It'll be a big day; we'll have a good victory." But the ruling party Kadima won't go without a fight. Its leader, the current foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, has clawed back ground in polls in recent days. She urged voters not to be wooed by the tough talk of the right wing.
A large luster campaign dominated by the war in Gaza.
Tzipi Livni, Leader of Kadima Party, "People shouldn’t think about their fears and despair; people should think of hope and what everyone wants to feel on the evening of the results." This has been a largely lack luster campaign dominated by the war in Gaza. Worries about Israel's security have in turn boosted the standing of the far-right, led by the firebrand Avigdor Lieberman, who turned out to vote in a settlement in the West Bank.
People voting for Lieberman as a protest vote.
Many see a vote for Lieberman as a vote against everyone else. Daniel, voter, "Every election there's a protest vote. Last election is was for the pensioners' party. This election, a lot of people are feeling frustrated as the way things have gone and they're giving Lieberman their vote as a protest vote." Wracked by political scandal and weakened by discontent, Israel has had five governments in the past 10 years. And with no single party expected to secure more than a third of the Knesset's seats, the country looks set for yet another fragile coalition among bitter rivals.

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