Netanyahu faces Israeli voters

Mr Netanyahu said the choice was between parties that would lead to "a divided and weak Israel or a united and strong Israel".

Analysts say he is likely to form a new right-wing coalition.

Unlike previous elections, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has not been high on most parties' campaign agendas.

Social and economic issues have emerged as key concerns among voters in the run-up to the polls.

According to final opinion polls, the joint electoral list of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party and the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party of his former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman will win about 32 seats. That would be 10 fewer than their combined total from the previous election but still enough to form a majority with right-wing parties.

Other right-wing and religious parties are expected to give Mr Netanyahu a majority of about 63 seats in the 120-member Knesset (parliament).

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