As voting began in Israel’s election on Tuesday, a ballot voters have been told could determine the future borders of their state, pollsters remained undecided about the make-up of the next government coalition.

A series of conflicting last-minute opinion polls spread alarm through the major parties, according to local commentators, although all agreed that Ehud Olmert’s centrist Kadima party would emerge with the largest number of seats in the 120-member Knesset.