"motherhood on ice". sunday, 10:00 eastern. only on al jazeera america in a tight election battle against the resurprised subsequent opposition. hello there you are watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up on the program activists accuse the syrian air force of carrying out a gas attack killing six people. relief teams start to reach outer islands to survey the damage from a massive cyclone. and why flooding in argentina is being partly blamed on these crops.

>> . >> hello there thank you for joining us. israelis have left less than an hour left of voting in an election that is expected to have a very close result. benjamin netanyahu who has already served three terps as prime minister leads the right wing party. he has put security first condemning any international deal allowed iran to have nuclear facilities and promising to prevent the palestinian state. the main challenges are the zionist uniwon who is made up of the leftist party. the big promise renewed push for peace with the palestinians and commend israel's strained ties with the united states. they have also focused on the rising cost of living which has become a central issue for many.

al jazeera has full coverage standing by at the headquarters of the party. at the labor party headquarters and at the joint list party headquarters in nazarite. so let's start with the party headquarters. mike i guess when benjamin netanyahu called this election he didn't have to, he still had two years left, i guess he fete confident then perhaps not so confident now how is it looks for the prime minister with one hour left to go voting? >> well, indeed, yes, when he called that early election, it appears to be a sound move. the dominant political force within the country. backed in the months of campaigning, that has changed significantly, and of course they apparently trailing in the polls most recently done before the election took place. so circumstances appear to have changed yet, it is still a very close race indeed.

the israeli electoral commission says that the turn out is substantial, and it says that it is higher at this stage than it was back in 1999. which was also a very high poll. so certainly, it is going to be at exceedingly close race, as the massive turn out at the polls has indicates. >> there's been a steady stream of voters and it is expected that close to 80% of the voters will cast their ballots by the evening. among the early voters is benjamin netanyahu who has been slipping behind apparently bleeding support to a number of parties within the spectrum, by extreme right wing. and in recent days net then yahoo himself has reached out to the right catching support for settlements and occupied territory, and recanting what

was always a grudging commitment to a palestinian state. but it ayer poos this was not enough to close the gap on zionist union, which polled indicate could emerge as the dominant political movement when the votes are counted. crucially, though, no single movement will get near the 61 seats needed to command an absolutely majority in the parliament. and as in previous elections there are likely to be weeks of talks before a government is formed. four parties coming together, informing the joint list. ball van nicing that make up one fifth of the population. early indications indications that are the joint list could bring as many as 14 seats making it a potentially cruel player, in coalition building. but as an all aspects of the israeli politics there's a complication, members of the list insisting they will not be part of an israeli

government regardless of who hits it. catching to fight for palestinian rights from the opposition benches. >> and so, mike, polls close at 20 gmt less than an hour from now, when are we expecting to have some kind of results of the voting not necessarily what the government is going to look like. >> well, certainly the official ruts are likely to be out by the early morning. this will be exit polls released. this have proved to be accurate, and lit be a clear indication of what party and which parties have actually feared the strongest in this election. however, that being said, many do remember 1996. where the saying go ewe went to bed with paris and woke up with netanyahu, so exit polling not always accurate,

although in the most recent elections it has proven to be so. mike for the moment, thank you. and now let's go live to the labor party headquarters. and speak standing by for us now. they were put four seeds ahead, which would be great news for them, but this was a couple of days ago which is a lifetime in politics are they still so optimistic now. >> if you asked me that question 24 hours ago i would say yes with his running mate, sidney the former foreign minister -- or sorry the former minister with mr. netanyahu's government and indeed former peace negotiator, but the fact is in the last 24 hours or so, seem things to be different.

the mood a littleless upbeat, there is quote deep concern in this union camp that the momentum that was behind them, seemed to be evaporating as they cast their ballots in this final hour of this campaign it is too close to call. >> speaking to us from tel-aviv. thank you, and now let's go to -- at the joint list headquarters in nazareth, the joint list, could have -- these are all predictions but they could have as many as 15 seeds that would make them the third biggest block which in itself would give them some strength, what is the sphere like? how story add day is this. >> well, there's a lot of

anticipation here at the joint list headquarters. where a lot of the sources here from the joint list itself. monitoring some of the figures across the arab community the voting percentages from those areas, in this election. some of these sources in the joint list are el thing us that they think so far up to 56% of the arab population has voted in this election. there were opinion polls suggesting they could get 14, 15 seeds making them the third largest party, if this happens it would be historic, it would be unprecedented and very significant for israel's small arab minority, which does not exceed 20%. to actually have such considerable sway in the opposition. when in the past, voter turn

outs have been low and arab areas and as well, people have generally felt isolated from the political process here. but many people we have talked to especially those as they were leaving the polling stations which is mainly arab city here in israel, say that they have a lot of hope, they have hope for change, because they have been calling on arab political parties for many years to reunite under one ticket so that they would have more power in. they say that this is a golden opportunity and even those that weren't convinced in voting said that they would vote nonetheless regardless of what the outcome is, it is still significant even if the outcome is largely symbolic. >> looking at the turn out would be very interesting for the moment live for us. thank you. >> remember you can find out much more on the candidates and the issues dominating the election on our website

aljazeera.com, just click on the link to the latest news and indepth analysis, remember he have the exit polls at 20 gmt in less than one hour. firstle amnesty international believes the strikes carried out by the syrian government last november, pay amount to war climbs. elsewhere opposition groups accuse regime forces of using deadly chlorine gas. kim reports. >> a man apparently suffers the effects of collar rene gas is doused in water. it is according to human rights groups who monitor attacks like these. survivors are given oxygen, causing suffocation. >> we are here to receive the wounded.

we have received around 70 of them until now including women and children. we expect more to come some of them need more medical care. >> the observatory for human rights says at least six people including women and children were killed in this bombardment. opposition about vests say it was the second attack of it's kind in two days. babies like this one they say are among the victims. right now the world is being urged to turn it's attention here. november last year, president bashar al asaad forces attacked the city, in a bid to drive out isil fighters. but in a new report, amnesty international says the rules of war were violated. the research that we have done

shows that over 100 civilians were killed they place the targeted were not islamic state bases at all. busy markets and mosques and residential areas. >> amnesty says while attention was diverted to the u.s. led air strikes elsewhere, the forces killed civilians relentlessly. doctors say they know the world is condemning and following these crimes. it is action that is needed to stop the bloodshed. rothers are emerlinging that commanders has been killed in fighting around the libyan city. residents say the city is running short of fuel and food. >> still more to come on the

program, including edging closer, the latest on iran's nuclear talks. and while polio is more prevalent than ever despite a major vaccination campaign.

>> a reminder now the stop stories. israelis have half an hour left to vote in an election that is expected to be a close race between the prime minister's party and the main rival the central left zionist union. syrian forces have been

accused of ideaing deadly chlorine gas killing women and children. activists say that at least six people were killed, which in the province. and dozens of people have been threing the libyan city as isil battle maz lish sha loyal to the tripoli based government. one of isil's top field commanders has been killed in fighting there there high level talks in switzerland aimed at stopping iran being able to make a nuclear bomb, are said to be 90% of the way toward as deal. the u.s. secretary of state and the iranian foreign minister are believed to have just one key issue to settle. at the white house says it is 50 very 50 as to whether the final murder 8:00 be overcome. a deal would involve iran agreeing to scale down nuclear activities in return for relief from western sanctions.

the u.n. says that at least 11 people were killed revising down and earlier figure of 24. more than 3,000 people were homeless, the government says it will take about a week to fully arecess the damage, because communication with outlying islands. turner island is one of the worst effected of those out ever areas andrew thomas reports on the damage there. you can see they won't be coming back for some time. that building is totally wrecked and the roof on this one has almost totally peeled away. perhaps the island hardest hit by the cyclone we flew down on a small propeller plane that seats six because only those sorts of small planes can get in here, what is

really need redirect examination the big military planes with aid onboard. just individuals have come to assess immediate needs and this is what they told us they need most here. >> the priorities are the roads, the tents the shelters, food and medicine. and the tents the immediate response, immediate. they are very needed. this school is one of the least damaged, many aren't standing at all, totally flattened and on the road, we came across family sitting in the ruins of their home trying to salvage some timber to start building again. >> this house i had it since 1995. i called my wife, we have to move out now. because i don't know. i just see your house moving up and down, i -- my heart was sinking and i thought we have to move this school building

adds one of the least damaged has become an impromptu place for people to stay. about 100 people staying here at the moment, the hope is that as those planes can come in the next day or two that proper aid will arrive, because people here, all over this island, desperately need it. >> andrew thomas reporting there. at least two people have died after a dutch u.n. helicopter gun ship crashed in northern mali. the incident occurred in the north gao region, so far the crash is being treated as an accident. troops are serving as part of the u.n. peace keeping mission in the area. nigeria's national security spokesman says boko haram are now running with their tails between their legs. a major offensive against the armed group is said to be in i believe's final stages after the military retook two key towns. boko haram's last strong hold

in the state while the second largest town was retaken on monday. nigeria has been supported by troops from cameroon, chad. the army chief staff says they have now repelled the group from all but three local districts in the northeast at the start of the year, it controls around 20. two members of a polio vaccination team and a police officer have been shot dead. the attack in an afghan refugee camp near the city, is the latest in a string of attacks on polio workers who some accuse of trying to sterilize muslims. pakistan is one of only three countries where polio is still endemocratic. pakistan remain as major concern can because of a number of cases reported from

pakistan, now in the province, immunization program is underway according to the officer in charge, there are problems but up to 754,000 children are to be given those polio drops. the story in the other province is mott so good. a number of deadly attacks on polio workers has brought that program to a grinding halt. the pakistani government will have to gear up to meet this challenge, otherwise will there be travel restrictions on pakistanis who wish to go overseas. >> are motivated they are in the feed, they are trying to reach every child we are meeting all challenges, passing the security situation as well, the weather challenges as well and we are trying our best to satisfy not only the international community, but the local community as well. >> also, there has been criticism of the way the government has handled this

crisis. millions of dollars worth of vaccines have been wasted because of neglect. the government of pakistan will have to really gear up and meet this challenge, in order to eradicate this deadly disease. >> in march last year, russia annexed the ukrainian territory the regions ethnic community was caught up in then suing political crisis and they say that they have since suffered human rights abuses, in the city finding out what life is like for crimea tartars. >> he hasn't slept in his bed since last september, his bag hangs where he left, his clothes on the damen in black uniforms abducted him and his cousin. he left half hoping half grieving, and wondering if he is in any way to blame. >> hearing one of the

interrogations after the abduction, the investigating committee said they studied how they were considering one connected with me and my activity. i asked what he meant, and he answered, you need to be careful your behavior i asked does that mean my children are alive. he smiled and shrugged his shoulders pen he was deputy chairman of the tartars informal parliament before it was shut down by crimea's new administration. immediate yo jut lets have been raided or denied licenses. last month the body of a man was found with signs of torture. the issue of crimea is a deeply complex one. coming in large part from their deportation to central asia in 1944, and then their later return. in long standing arguments over land rights and religious

differences, but crimea's tartars reasonable the only people complaining of human rights abuses. >> abductions and prosecutions say right workers are being used against those too critical of the return to russia. >> another group is the ukrainian activists who at any point in their lives expressed involvement in organizations supporting ukraine. it is surprise, these people consider themselves ukrainians because it would be territory of ukraine. >> such accusations get short from crimea's new leaders. >> unfortunately, the so called human rights defenders are bringing alarms where alarming cases are not happening. they are just working for money pay by certain organizations in western countries. they have certain targets. the main one is to discredit crimea joining russia. >> mia's prime minister has assured of his sons

disappearance is being properly investigated. i am not convinced 100%, but i think he is alive. >> until he is proven right or wrong, all he can do is campaign and hope. al jazeera. crimea. >> hundreds of young sea lions have washed up along the west coast of the u.s. rescuers have found 1,700 pups since january. scientists are baffled but say that low fish stocks may be to blame. >> hundreds of starving sea lion pups are washing up on the beaches. rescuers are end fooing them under piers on docks and in people's yards. and they are working hard to try to save them. our facility as well as the others in southern california are at or nearing capacity. we are doing everything we can to work with the rescue agency to bring in as many patients as we can the fact is this year, because of the

inordinate numbers we won't be able to save every single animal on the beach. >> marine biologists believe a old mooer than usual winter and warmer costal water temperatures have driven away the fish, that sea lions eat. the lack of foods like sardines and anchovies near the breeding grounds is forcing the mammals to go out further to hunt. >> for whatever reason, whether they have overrun the food supply, or whether the food supply is out from under them apparently the mothers aren't finding enough food to sustain the pups. and probably abandoning them. >> abandoned and hungry, the pups are trying to hunt for food themselves and washing up onshore exhausted and starving. >> we are predominately seeing underweight animals. they should be in the 50 to 60-pound range, and they are coming in a fraction of that. >> the u.s. agency that monitors the atmosphere and ocean conditions says the increase in the number of pups washing ashore is still a mystery. it is warning that california

should brace for more of them, showing up on it's beaches. al jazeera. >> flooding is hitting harvest season. millions of dollars worth of crops have been washed away including soya the third biggest exported. as daniel errors massive deforest station may be to blame. >> this is the sound of the central argentine province. every house ruined all of its residents evacuated. for now in the community center of the neighboring. there were similar scenes across the north of argentina earlier this month as more rain fell in a few hours than normally falls in weeks. >> when the water goes down, i don't know what we will do, we will have to boar re, but i don't know if they will give us loans. >> one of the cropses had a

lost with his harvest, the crop that now covers more than 60 million hectares. fetching more than 270 u.s. dollars a ton on world markets. boosting the uncan's unstable economy. to make way for the soy a huge sways of forest had to be cleared this is all very green, but it is not natural. for one, where have all the treed gone? these vast and very lucrative fields some say only exacerbate the flooding. causing great suffering for many for the benefit of a few. >> soy yeah production in argentina rose 126% in a decade. most of it for export to feed cattle. >> in the last 16 years lost 300 thought hectares of native forest. it is only got 4% of the original forest left. add in the consequences of climate change, and you are creating a cocktail of conditions for flooding which

will only get worse. >> the removal of vegetation leads to soil left able to absorb water when it rains the water simply flow over it what we feed are long term policies to regenerate native forest, and not allow more deforrecitation which ends up prejudicing the whole society. >> local authorities say this abiding by a national law designed to protect the forests. but thed threing continues. with greater frequency. >> we have lost everything. the freight crops who is going to help replace all of this. >> and despite the warnings the deforest station continues. daniel al jazeera argentina. >> new evidence suggests the largest glacier in eastern antarctic cacould be melting faster than ever. scientists have already on

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