Netanyahu Fights For Political Life A Week Before Israel Votes

(Yahoo! News) Mike Smith September 9 2019 Jerusalem - Israel moved into its final week of campaigning Monday for an unprecedented second general election in five months with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu battling for political survival while facing a potential corruption indictment. With the September 17 vote looming Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud drew outrage from opposition parties with a push for last-minute legislation that would allow party officials to bring cameras to polling stations. His critics labelled it a naked attempt to depress turnout among Israels Arab population as it could intimidate many into staying away. They also pointed out that it could serve to energize Netanyahus base of right-wing voters due to his warnings -- so far unfounded -- that the election could be stolen. The premier says he is only interested in protecting the integrity of the vote and preventing fraud. Netanyahu has used similar tactics in the past including warning on election day in 2015 that Israeli Arabs were voting in droves a comment for which he later apologized. Parliament had planned to hold the first of three required votes on the bill on Monday but it failed to receive necessary backing from a committee and appeared dead for now. The main opposition Blue and White centrist alliance said it would vote against it and ex-defense minister Avigdor Lieberman said his nationalist Yisrael Beitenu would do the same.