Polls open in 'tight' Israeli election

Israelis began voting in their second election in five months on Tuesday in a poll that will decide whether to extend Benjamin Netanyahu's term as the country's longest-serving prime minister despite corruption allegations against him.

The prime minister said he expected the polls to be close and urged citizens to turn out in large numbers.

"President (Donald) Trump said yesterday that the elections will be tight," Netanyahu said as he voted alongside his wife in Jerusalem.

"I can guarantee you this morning that they are very tight."

Polls opened at 7am (0400 GMT) and were due to close in most areas at 10pm.

Opinion polls have indicated another tight race, showing Netanyahu's Likud and ex-military man Benny Gantz's Blue and White winning around 32 seats each in the 120-seat parliament.

Some 6.4 million people are eligible to vote.