Voting underway in the third Israeli........>

MIDEAST: Voting underway in the third Israeli general election in under a year. 

- Polls open until 2200 local time (2000GMT, 1500ET), shortly after which the

exit poll will be released. Should have a fairly clear of winner by early

morning (local time) of 3 March. 

- Caretaker PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud and Benny Gantz's centrist

Blue & White neck-and-neck in opinion polls before the election. As such there

is a notable chance deadlock could continue. 

- Netanyahu running on a hardline foreign policy platform, arguing only he will

be defend Israel from external threats. Gantz seeking to oust Likud by running

anti-corruption campaign. 

- Netanyahu faces trial starting on 17 March facing 3 separate charges of fraud

and breach of trust. 

- If Likud able to form gov't, or if Netanyahu remains as caretaker PM if no

gov't can be formed, he does not have to resign from office if he is convicted,

only once the appeals process is concluded. 

- Both men strong supporters of Trump peace plan for Israel/Palestine.