Netanyahu looks to break election deadlock

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, trailing in opinion polls, used a strategic Jewish settlement he helped found as the backdrop for an election eve bid to win back right-wing votes.

His main challenger, Isaac Herzog, leader of the Zionist Union, said on Facebook that “Israel will be stuck with Bibi” unless voters turn out today for the centre-left alliance, which polls predict will take 24 to 26 seats in the 120-member parliament, compared with 20 to 22 for Likud.

No single party has ever won an outright majority in the legislature, making coalitions the norm.