Israelis Vote in Election Favoring Netanyahu

Posted January 22nd, 2013 at 1:40 am (UTC-5)
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Israelis are voting Tuesday in a parliamentary election that is expected to bring a third term for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Opinion polls leading up to the vote have shown an alliance of Mr. Netanyahu's Likud party and the nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party winning the most seats.

The centrist, main opposition Labor party and the far-right Jewish Home party are projected to finish far behind.

Mr. Netanyahu needs a coalition to retain control of the 120-seat parliament, where no party has ever held a majority on its own.

The next government faces a number of challenges, including increasing diplomatic isolation over Israel's policies toward Palestinians, a slowing economy and the threat of Iran developing possible nuclear weapons.