Polls open in Israel's 5th election in 4 years

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Voting began on Tuesday morning in Israel’s fifth election in less than four years.

Around 6.7 million registered voters will be able to cast their ballots at more than 11,700 polling stations until 10 p.m. local time (2000GMT).

Strict security measures have been enforced across the country, including the deployment of 18,000 personnel.

As former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to return to power, opinion polls indicate his right-wing Likud party could secure 60 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament, one shy of the required majority.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party is projected to finish second in a tight race.

The election results will be announced on Wednesday.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report