Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told his supporters that the country’s Arab citizens were voting “in droves" as the country's election campaign reached its closing stages.

He said he hoped right-wing Israelis would help him “close the gap.”

Speaking in a video posted to his Facebook page, Mr Netanyahu said: “The right-wing government is in danger. Arab voters are coming out in droves to the polls. Left-wing organisations are bussing them out.

“We have no V15, we have Order 8 [code for emergency call up to IDF reserve duty], we have only you.

“Get out to vote, bring your friends and family, vote Likud in order to close the gap between us and Labour."

His comments come amid reports of an increased voter turnout among the Israeli Arab population.

By midday local time 26.5 percent of eligible voters had already completed their ballots, according to Israeli election officials.