On the face of it, Israeli voters are confronted with a clear and familiar choice in Tuesday’s general election.

There is Benjamin Netanyahu, the hawkish leader of the rightwing Likud party whose security-first mantra has resonated with Israeli voters scarred by two recent wars and the prospect of a nuclear Iran. Facing him is Tzipi Livni, the leader of the centrist Kadima party and one of the most outspoken advocates of peace talks and territorial compromises with the Palestinians.