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Jerusalem (AP) - For the fourth time within two years, the citizens of Israel are called today to elect a new parliament.
Around 6.6 million people can vote for one of almost 40 lists.
According to the latest polls, the Likud party of the right-wing conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should again become the strongest faction despite losses.
However, it is unclear whether he will have enough time for another term of office.
A narrow majority of the anti-Netanyahu camp is also considered possible by observers.
According to the surveys, however, a stalemate cannot be ruled out either.
Should the formation of a government fail, another new election could be necessary as early as the summer.
Voting starts early Tuesday morning.
Initial forecasts are expected when the polling stations will close at 9 p.m. CET.
The official final result is to be published one week after the election.
Due to the Corona circumstances and a long weekend with a public holiday, however, possible delays in the vote count are expected.
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Netanyahu has been prime minister since 2009.
He is hoping for another term.
During the election campaign, the 71-year-old tried above all to score points with the rapid corona vaccination campaign and with Israel's rapprochement with other Arab states.
In recent months, however, many Israelis have expressed dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's crisis management in the course of the pandemic.
The number of infections in Israel was sometimes significantly higher than in Germany, and citizens had to come to terms with long lockdown phases.
Netanyahu is also under pressure because of a corruption lawsuit against him.
The questioning of witnesses begins almost two weeks after the election.
Netanyahu's greatest challenger in the election is the chairman of the Future Party, former opposition leader Jair Lapid.
It is expected that around a dozen parties or lists will pass the 3.25 percent hurdle required for entry into the 120-seat Knesset.
According to experts, the number of parties entering parliament is likely to determine whether or not Netanyahu can remain prime minister.
The result of the right-wing Jamina party, which is friendly to settlers, also plays a special role.
Its chairman, Naftali Bennett, had stood with the aim of replacing Netanyahu.
However, he has not ruled out entering into a coalition with the latter.
Should he do so, the Jamina party could secure a majority for Netanyahu.
The election will be held under special circumstances due to the corona.
There are significantly more polling stations than in previous votes.
This is to avoid crowds.
In Israel there is no postal voting option.
People who are in quarantine should, for example, be able to cast their votes in converted buses.
Citizens should also be able to vote at Ben Gurion International Airport.
Around 20,000 security guards are to monitor the course of the election.
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The new election had become necessary because the alliance between Netanyahu and his opponent in the past elections, Benny Gantz from the center alliance Blau-Weiß, concluded last spring under the impression of the corona crisis, broke after just a few months in the course of a budget dispute.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210323-99-929765 / 3