Al-Quds city (JERUSALEM), February 10, SPA -- Israeli officials said Tuesday that polls had opened for the general election that pits former PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party againstForeign Minister Tzipi Livni and her ruling Kadima Party. Most of the country's 9,263 polling stations opened asscheduled at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT, 12 a.m. EST ). Polls areopen in all but the smallest communities until 10 p.m.(2000 GMT, 3 p.m. EST), Associated Press reported. «Voting began at seven o'clock,» national electionofficial Benny Lahav told Israel Radio. He said the firstestimates of voter turnout would be compiled at around 10a.m. Voters in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel bravedpouring rain and strong winds Tuesday morning, expected tokeep numbers low. Voter turnout in the last election in2006 was 63.2 percent, the lowest in Israel's history. The Israeli military announced a closure of the West Bankfrom midnight Monday until midnight Tuesday, barringPalestinians from entering Israel except for urgent medicaltreatment. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/634177