"Didn't Israelis vote like just a few months ago?" Yes. They did.
But despite his Likud party's win in April, current Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to form a coalition. In Israel the system of forming a government depends on the majority party winner’s ability to convince other parties to join their coalition.
That sometimes necessitates exhaustive negotiation and deal-making sessions and presidential requests for time extensions and even then – as was the case with April's election – the party leader tasked with forming the government can't bring all the parties together to claim a majority 61 Knesset (parliament) seats of the total 120.
That's how Israel arrived at an unprecedented second election within less than six months.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, speaks during an event in Tel Aviv, Israel, on September 10, 2019. /VCG Photo
Will it be different this time around?
Last minute polling shows popularity figures looking about the same as they did in April – Benjamin Netanyahu's right wing Likud party tied for the lead with former chief-of-staff Benny Gantz's centrist Blue and White Party.
The tricky part will be which of the two parties can successfully form a coalition – if there's a tie, it's up to the president to task one of the leaders with putting together a government based on approval ratings from potential coalition partners or other parties.
The difference this time is the timing. Netanyahu stands to possibly be indicted on corruption and bribery charges soon after the election, a factor that could influence how the president, coalition partners and voters choose.
A supporter of the Likud party holds an election campaign poster depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, on September 13, 2019. /VCG Photo
Contentious campaigning
The current round of campaigning has been characterized by racism, fearmongering, promises of illegal post-election moves and a vigorous bid, on Netanyahu's part, to stay out of jail.
The prime minister has reportedly been negotiating with potential coalition partners for an immunity bid if he is elected prime minister. If passed, an immunity bill would bar a sitting prime ministers from facing charges. Netanyahu denies the claim.
Netanyahu’s Likud party campaign has also included blatant racism against the country's 20 percent Arab voting sector, a promise to annex the occupied West Bank, suggestions of a post-election war in Gaza, last minute visits to Russia and England to promote "international appearances" and a commitment to annex the Jordan Valley which is deemed illegal by the UN, Jordan and other international bodies.
An Arab sector in Tel Aviv. /CGTN Photo
Some critics have described Netanyahu as desperate and doing everything in his power to stay in power.
"Netanyahu is vulnerable. That's one of the biggest changes we're seeing from April," Israel Democracy Institute analyst Ofer Kenig told CGTN. "His fellow Likud party members may replace him with a new party leader and that person would then be the prime minister. It’s one of the scenarios that could play out."