00:01Israelis began voting on Tuesday in a pivotal parliamentary election that could see the ousting of long-time Prime Minister
00:08Benjamin Netanyahu.
00:09Opinion polls have suggested a tight race with his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
00:16Over 7 million people are eligible to vote, and tens of thousands have reportedly arrived from overseas.
00:22I don't know, I haven't been in my life since I moved to Canada, and I have almost 30 years
00:28in Canada.
00:28This is the first time that I'm leaving, because it feels like it's the money time.
00:34Like, is it right now or is it really not the state anymore?
00:39We all hope that the percentage of voters all over the country and here will be very high, and we
00:48need a change.
00:49Most of the population of Israel are sure that we need a change, and I hope the change will come.
00:58The close-fought vote comes as Israel looks increasingly isolated on the world stage,
01:03driven by a devastating military campaign in Gaza, soaring settlement construction and violence in the occupied West Bank,
01:10along with a move towards hard-right religious nationalism.
01:15Netanyahu campaigned on his security record and his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump,
01:21while Eisenkot has presented himself as a more liberal force that could work to improve Israel's international standing.
01:27Thank you very much.
