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Politics198 words2 min read

Israel Holds Major Election

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Israelis are voting today in what is being called the most important election in the country's history.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to remain in power, but most polls suggest his governing coalition will lose its majority.

A coalition is a group of political parties that join together to form a government.

A majority means having more than half of the seats, which is needed to stay in power.

Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the leading contender from the opposition.

A contender is someone competing strongly to win something, in this case Netanyahu's position.

The opposition includes parties that oppose the current government and want change.

If the polls are correct, Netanyahu could lose his position as prime minister.

This would be a major shift in Israeli politics after many years of his leadership.

The election is taking place against a background of ongoing tension in the region.

Many people see this vote as a chance to decide the country's future direction.

Results are expected once voting ends and all ballots are counted.

Analysts say the outcome could change Israel's political landscape significantly.

People across Israel are closely following the results as they come in.

Vocabulary6 words

election
a day when people choose their leaders by voting
polls
studies that show what people think before a vote
coalition
a group of parties that work together in government
majority
more than half of the total votes or seats
contender
someone who has a strong chance of winning
opposition
the political group against the current government

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Quiz

1. What do most polls suggest about Netanyahu's coalition?
2. Who is described as the leading opposition contender?
3. True or False: This election is being called the most consequential in Israel's history.

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Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Israelis are voting today in what is being called the most important _____ in the country's history.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to remain in power, but most _____ suggest his governing coalition will lose its majority.

A _____ is a group of political parties that join together to form a government.

A _____ means having more than half of the seats, which is needed to stay in power.

Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the leading _____ from the opposition.

A contender is someone competing strongly to win something, in this case Netanyahu's _____.

The _____ includes parties that oppose the current government and want change.

If the polls are correct, Netanyahu could _____ his position as prime minister.

Results are expected once voting ends and all _____ are counted.

Analysts say the outcome could change Israel's political _____ significantly.

Discussion questions

  1. Why might this election be described as highly consequential?
  2. What role do opinion polls play before an election?
  3. How might a change in government affect a country's direction?
  4. What do you think makes an election important in history?

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