Benjamin Netanyahu's political future hangs in the balance as Israel goes to the polls today in a defining vote for the Middle East.
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Israel → hang → East
The Israeli Prime Minister narrowly trails his main rival, former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, ahead of the country's first election since the October 7 massacre.
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Minister → trail → massacre
The deadliest day in Israel's history has featured prominently in the campaign - and the vote is widely seen as a referendum on the catastrophic security failure.
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vote → feature → failure
Voters heading to the polls will pass the faces of fallen soldiers peering from stickers on train station walls and faded yellow ribbons honouring the hostages, the last of whom were returned in a ceasefire deal last year.
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last → head → deal
Mr Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has sought to shift blame for the failures surrounding October 7 to security officials, while touting Israel's military achievements against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and their patron, Iran.
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Netanyahu → serve → Lebanon
Yesterday, Donald Trump doubled down on his support for Mr Netanyahu despite relations between the pair having been strained by the war on Iran.
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relations → double → Iran
The US President urged Israelis to vote for the Israeli PM so the pair could 'finish the job' in Iran.
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pair → urge → Iran
Benjamin Netanyahu's political future hangs in the balance as Israel goes to the polls today
In the Truth Social post, Mr Trump added: 'When you go to the Polls please remember that Bibi has been an outstanding warrior prime minister!'
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Bibi → hang → Polls
He said: 'Israel was called the little satan, with the United States being called the big satan, by some very evil people.
'
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States → say → people
Mr Netanyahu has made the confrontation with the regime in Tehran a key part of his campaign, pledging to work with Trump to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat.
But former IDF chief Eisenkot has accused him of playing up the Iran threat when it suits him politically, and of failing to accomplish his war goals.
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it → make → goals
Mr Netanyahu's fate could be sealed by an estimated 70,000 Israeli expats who are flying back to the country to cast their vote, with many expected to back his opponent.
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many → seal → opponent
Among those who have returned is Hannah, a businesswoman from North West London who lived in Israel for 11 years and is determined to see a change of leadership.
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who → return → leadership
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: 'This election is existential for the soul and future of Israel.
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election → speak → Israel
I felt so strongly about its importance that I made a special trip back to Israel to cast my vote.
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I → feel → vote
'I will be voting for Gadi Eisenkot because I believe our country desperately needs clear, strong and ethical leadership — leadership that can restore trust, bring people together and heal the divisions that Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to bridge.
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Netanyahu → vote → that
'If Itamar Ben-Gvir and the extreme right continue to hold positions of power in the Israeli government, I fear Israel will become a country whose values no longer reflect those I believe in and identify with.'
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I → continue → those
Leader of the Yashar party Gadi Eisenkot addresses his supporters during the final campaign rally
Israelis abroad cannot generally vote by post, proxy or at their local embassy.
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Israelis → address → embassy
With limited exceptions they must return to Israel in person to cast their ballots.
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they → limit → ballots
The AID Coalition, a US-based non-profit, estimates that up to 67,000 Israelis are returning to vote, about half from the US and the rest from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
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Israelis → base → Europe
For many expatriates, the importance of this election outweighs the cost and inconvenience of returning home to vote.
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importance → outweigh → cost
The latest polling by Israeli broadcasters placed Mr Eisenkot's Yashar party a few seats ahead of Netanyahu's Likud.
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polling → place → Likud
But securing the largest number of seats would not, by itself, guarantee victory.
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securing → secure → victory
The election is likely to be followed by complicated coalition negotiations, with any prospective government needing the support of at least 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset.
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government → follow → Knesset
The Aporia
