Israelis divided in tight election

Israelis voted on Tuesday in an election expected to be a close-fought battle between the center-left and incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who ruled out a Palestinian state in a last-ditch appeal to the right.

The outcome of the race, in which opinion polls suggest Netanyahu will win fewer seats than the center-left Zionist Union, is likely to help determine the prospects for new Middle East peace talks.

It will also help determine the shape of Israel's long-standing relations with the United States, its chief ally.