Countdown to September 17 Raoul Wootliff, Marissa Newman, Jacob Magid and Adam Rasgon Round two: ToI’s guide to the 30 parties that want your vote, again Everything you need to know about the front-runners, the new alliances, the parties in danger of stumbling under the electoral threshold, and the earnest yet hopeless unknowns

Voting guide / How to cast your vote, the second time around By Raoul Wootliff   West Bank, Gaza crossings to be closed for Palestinians on election day By Judah Ari Gross   On last day of campaign, politicians savage each other, urge voters to show up By TOI staff

Netanyahu says he is planning on annexing parts of Hebron By TOI staff and AP PM says the small community located in the heart of the Palestinian city will become an official part of the Jewish state

Netanyahu: After Jordan Valley and settlements, I’ll annex other ‘vital areas’ By TOI staff   After Israeli meet, PA to also hold cabinet summit in Jordan Valley By TOI staff and Agencies

Analysis David Horovitz Vowing annexation, charging voter fraud, ‘King Bibi’ looks poised to extend rule If polls are in the ballpark, Netanyahu’s tactics will have worked and next Knesset will represent more hawkish Israeli electorate, undeterred by his attacks on media, cops, judges

Organization of Islamic Cooperation ‘totally rejects’ Netanyahu’s annexation vow By AFP and TOI staff   Times of Israel Presents / Democratic Camp’s Horowitz: West Bank annexation would mean ‘kind of apartheid’ By Raoul Wootliff   Times of Israel Presents / Bennett won’t promise immunity for PM; will weigh ‘stability of Israel’ By Raoul Wootliff

Will Israel’s Arab citizens turn out to vote? By Adam Rasgon and Simona Weinglass

Top Ops

Yohanan Plesner Post-election scenarios and the case for unity The other possibilities — a third round of voting or a narrow, right-wing government — carry exorbitant price tags   Yair Lapid Imagine a new reality Our coalition is here to buckle down and work: to reduce the cost of living, to rebuild the Foreign Ministry, to improve relations with Diaspora Jewry, and much more   Baruch Stein Voting Liberman, for heaven’s sake If you want to see religious reform in the next Knesset, you need Yisrael Beytenu to continue blocking the formation of a rightist-Haredi coalition   Naomi Chazan What if you don’t vote? Planning to skip voting? Don’t. Planning to vote strategically rather than your conscience? Don’t do that either

Interview Likud’s Barkat: Both sides have crossed the line in overly hostile campaigns By Raoul Wootliff Focusing on rival party’s economic plans rather than mudslinging, former Jerusalem mayor claims ‘socialistic’ Blue and White will take Israeli economy backwards

Shaked: Netanyahu ‘irrationally loathes’ me, wants to keep my party small By Alexander Fulbright   Gantz urges Rivlin to help ensure Israel does not go to third election By TOI staff

Analysis Jacob Magid Netanyahu alleges ‘rampant’ Arab voter fraud, but his claim is unfounded PM insists law enforcement not properly probing ballot infractions in Arab sector

With cameras banned, new right-wing patrol seeks to ‘prevent Arab voter fraud’ By Jacob Magid   Elections panel to send observers with cameras to problematic polling stations By TOI staff   Prosecutors to indict Shas polling official for election fraud By TOI staff

PM planned ‘extraordinary’ Gaza op after speech interrupted by rockets — report By TOI staff Newspaper says mooted retaliation for Ashdod attack was opposed by some security chiefs; Netanyahu shelved idea after attorney general told him cabinet approval was needed

Israel media review / I’m whatever you want me to be: 6 things to know for September 16 By Jacob Magid

Op-ed Shalom Yerushalmi Shas could throw the elections a curve ball The leaders of the Sephardi Haredi party have warned voters that their very redemption depends on Tuesday’s election results. This could win Shas nine seats or more

At huge rally, Haredi MK said to liken Lapid, Liberman to biblical enemy Amalek By TOI staff   Shas rains on Tel Aviv’s get-out-the-vote parade By TOI staff   Shas MK: Liberman mocks us by shopping on Shabbat at store that sells pork By Alexander Fulbright

Interview Maven who engineered Democrats’ first blue wave spots another on the horizon By Robert Philpot

Live updates (closed) Defense chiefs stymied Netanyahu plan to hit Gaza before elections – report By TOI staff One source quoted as saying the prime minister was ‘playing with’ national security with bid that could have started a war

Iran seizes new boat near Strait of Hormuz as tensions spiral By AFP and TOI staff Officials say vessel, reportedly UAE-flagged, was being used to smuggle fuel; 11 crew members arrested

Trump: US locked and loaded for response to attack on Saudis By Jon Gambrell and Zeke Miller   Trump denies willingness to meet Iran leader with ‘no conditions’ By TOI staff and AP   Iran says ‘no plans’ for Rouhani-Trump meeting on UN sidelines By Agencies

Post-WWII Torah ark built by US soldiers in DP camp sparks battle between rabbis By Renee Ghert-Zand

More Headlines

Interview / Hiding out in Germany, judoka who defied Iran says he’s now ‘a free man’ By JAMES ELLINGWORTH   ‘EU get out’: Right-wing activist vandalizes European Union mission in Israel By TOI staff   Israel’s national baseball team advances to Europe-Africa Olympic qualifier By JTA   Nazi comedy ‘Jojo Rabbit’ wins Toronto film fest prize By Agencies and TOI staff   Israel offers preview of its pavilion at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai By Raphael Ahren   Sackler family’s Purdue Pharma files for bankruptcy as part of opiod settlement By GEOFF MULVIHILL   In TV gaffes, Netanyahu errs on rockets, Gantz says he’s ‘against entire public’ By Stuart Winer and TOI staff   Minnesota police say synagogue torching not a hate crime By AP   Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman replaces Ronen Manelis as IDF spokesperson By Judah Ari Gross   Officer who lost an eye in storied 2006 war battle to lead Golani Brigade By Judah Ari Gross