OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, March 28, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Millions of Israelis cast their ballots on Tuesday, March 28, to elect a new parliament in an election that could further upset peace chances amid electoral pledges to set Israel's final borders without consultations with the Palestinians.

"These elections will determine the state's character, its borders and moral identity," elder statesman and Kadima candidate Shimon Peres said after voting, reported Reuters.

Voter turnout was running at 10 percent after the first three hours of polling, organizers said.

More than five million Israelis are eligible to choose the 120 members of the 17th Knesset, with polling stations open until 10 pm (2000 GMT).

About 22,000 police are being stationed outside the 8,280 polling stations and troop reinforcements deployed across Israel.

No less than 31 parties are battling for seats in the legislature, although only half of them are expected to enter parliament.

On the election eve, acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima was tipped to win 34 seats, enough to form a governing coalition, Labour 21 seats and Likud only 13.

Despite the momentous nature of the election which was called a year ahead of schedule in November, the campaign has been marred by deep voter apathy with the outcome a seemingly foregone conclusion.

Unilateralism appeals to many Israelis concerned by the rise to power of Hamas after it won elections in January.

"I'm in favor of some withdrawals. I hope there won't be any more wars," said Tovah Weiss, an elderly woman who said she voted for Kadima.

Olmert has made the election a de-facto referendum on his plan to separate Israelis from Palestinians, declaring the peace process dead in the water.

He urged the electorate to vote en masse after a campaign that has largely failed to inspire the country despite the crucial issues at stake.

"Go and vote and may this be a beautiful day for the people of Israel," he said as he cast his ballot.

Olmert vowed to unilaterally dismantle remote settlements by 2010 and move thousands of dislodged settlers to bigger settlement blocs in occupied West Bank.

The World Court has ruled that all Jewish settlements are illegal.

Although Likud had sought to portray the victory of Hamas in the January Palestinian election as a result of the government's unilateral policy, all the major parties have ruled out dialogue with the Hamas-led government.

Arab governments fear post-election unilateralism will do away any possibility of just and durable peace in the region.

Israeli Arabs are seeking to keep a toehold in Knesset. (Reuters).

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appealed for Israelis to "vote for peace" and eschew Olmert's "unilateral plans which will not bring peace."

Many Palestinians remain skeptical the Israeli elections would make any difference.

"Things will not get better," 65-year-old Palestinian Abu Jamal told Reuters in Gaza.

"We have been seeing elections since 1948. An Israeli leader comes and another goes and nothing ever got better."

Nafez Azzam, a senior leader of Palestinian resistance group Islamic Jihad, agreed.

"We do not see any real difference among competing Israeli leaders," he said.

The Israeli election comes on the same day that Palestinian MPs were expected to approve the new Hamas-led cabinet.

"Neither the Palestinian people nor Hamas pays any attention to the Israeli election because it will only produce a criminal and an occupier of our Palestinian land," said Hamas lawmaker Mushir al-Masri.

Palestinians believe Olmert's proposal would destroy any prospects for peace and deny them a viable state by grabbing land Israel occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.

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