Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Israel kicks off general election

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-10 14:22

JERUSALEM -- Israel on Tuesday morning started a day-long general election to choose its next parliament and premiership.

Related readings:  UN to probe Israel's bombing on Gaza  Israel says Gaza rocket hits south, damages cars  Israel: Militants launch rocket, violating truce

Some 5.3 million Israelis, out of a total of about 7.2 million, are eligible for the vote, which began at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and lasts till 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) at over 9,200 polling stations across the Jewish state.

Thirty-three groups are competing for a share of the 120 parliamentary seats, and they must pass the minimum threshold of two percent of votes cast in order to be represented.

In the last general election in 2006, 31 parties registered to run but only 12 entered the legislature.

Recent polls indicated a close match between the two front- running parties, the center-right Likud and the centrist Kadima, with the former enjoying a small edge. Trailing behind them are the ultra-nationalist Israel Beiteinu and the center-left Labor Party.

Some 16,000 police and Border Guard officers, as well as about 2,500 volunteers and 4,500 security guards, will be deployed to polling stations and crowded sites. Medical rescue service will also stay on high alert.

Voters turnout is expected to be low, as the stormy weather forecast to sweep the country on the election day, a national holiday, would also sweep away the willingness of apathetic and undecided voters to take extra efforts to go to polling stations.

In the 2006 election, the turnout rate is 63.2 percent, lower than that in all the previous ones.

Israel's overseas diplomatic missions have already been voting since the beginning of this month, and soldiers and other special voters at home also cast their ballots in advance.

Following the election, President Shimon Peres will task a lawmaker, usually the leader of the party that wins the most votes, with forming a new government.

Till the new cabinet is sworn in, outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has been serving as a caretaker leader for over four months, will remain in office.