The Newshound

Lifelong Likud voters in Israel's rocket-battered north lose faith in Netanyahu days before Tuesday's knife-edge election

Benjamin Netanyahu faces a deadlocked election on 27 October, with Arab parties holding enough seats to hand the opposition a majority if it joins forces with them.
Benjamin Netanyahu faces a deadlocked election on 27 October, with Arab parties holding enough seats to hand the opposition a majority if it joins forces with them.

'I don't want the lies to continue,' says Eti Ben Shabat, 64, of Kiryat Shmona, who always voted Likud like her family. Rockets from Lebanon emptied the town three years ago, and it still feels half-deserted. Locals accuse Benjamin Netanyahu of breaking his promise to dismantle Hezbollah. A small dip in such strongholds could hand victory to his rival, Gadi Eisenkot.

Eisenkot, who heads the centrist Yashar party, is presenting himself as a hawkish alternative.

Polls indicate that Netanyahu's coalition would fall short of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Palestinian citizens of Israel, forecast to win 12-15 seats, are campaigning hard to topple him.

MoreThe Guardian‘The biggest motivation is fear’: High turnout among Israel’s Palestinians could unseat NetanyahuThe IndependentIn Netanyahu stronghold, signs of fraying loyalty emerge on eve of electionReutersEisenkot offers hawkish alternative to Netanyahu for Israeli PMAPIn Netanyahu stronghold, signs of fraying loyalty emerge before electionNYTOpinion | Democrats Need a Tough New Approach to Israel, Even if Netanyahu Loses
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