Two men wearing suits look ahead. It is Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu in a composite image.Image source, Reuters / Getty Images
Image caption,

Polling published on Friday suggests Gadi Eisenkot (left) is in a tight race with incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu (right)

ByTom BennettReporting fromJerusalem
  • Published9 minutes ago

Israelis are heading to the polls for what many view as one of the most pivotal elections in the country's history.

An unprecedented 70,000 people have reportedly flown home from abroad to vote, while half-a-million will cast ballots for the first time.

Polling published on Friday suggests incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu is in a near neck-and-neck race with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to become prime minister.