Israelis head to the polls, Netanyahu victory expected

         
Israelis began trickling into polling stations Tuesday morning to cast their votes in a parliamentary election expected to return Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to office despite years of stalled peacemaking with the Palestinians and mounting economic troubles.                  

Many voters have said they'll cast ballots for Netanyahu because they see no viable alternative. Polls suggest religious parties that have been his traditional allies will form the core of his next coalition government.                      

Netanyahu arrived early at a heavily secured polling station in Jerusalem with his wife, Sara, and two sons, both first-time voters.                   

After casting his vote, the prime minister told reporters that a flood of ballots for his list "is good for Israel."                      

Thirty-two parties are running for representation in Israel's 120-member parliament. Israel historically has had multiparty governments because no party has ever won an outright majority of 61 seats in the country's 64-year history.                 

Polls close at 10 PM and preliminary results are expected about two hours later. 


AP