Candidates in Israel's general election have been making last-minute appeals before voting begins on Tuesday.

Final opinion polls indicate victory for the right-wing Likud Party of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, with the opposition Labour Party facing its biggest defeat.

The secular centrist Shinui Party could emerge as the third largest party, polls show.

Amram Mitzna made a last-minute appeal to Labour supporters

Security has been the focus of the election campaign, and Israel has imposed a complete closure of the Palestinian territories until after the election.

Mr Sharon made his final campaign speech at a rally in Haifa, where Labour leader Amram Mitzna is mayor.

"I can fulfil my role only if we will have power in the Knesset (parliament)," he told supporters.

Mr Mitzna, who wants Israeli forces to withdraw from most Palestinian land, appealed for Labour's disaffected supporters to return.

"Those who believe there is still hope, who believe that it is possible to drive out the frustration, give me the power," he said. "I call on you, come home. Come back to the Labour Party."

Coalition deals

Correspondents say Mr Sharon will probably form a coalition with hardline and religious parties, but he wants a big enough Likud presence in parliament not to be swayed by their agendas.

Labour withdrew from a national unity government in November - triggering the elections - and has pledged not to form another alliance with Likud.

In response, Mr Sharon has been wooing Shinui and trying to win over Russian immigrants who are attracted to far-right parties, the Jerusalem Post reported on Monday.

A poll in the Yediot Aharonot daily shows Likud increasing its share of the vote from 19 seats in the 120-seat Knesset to at least 32 with Labour taking 18 or 19, down from its current 25.

Ariel Sharon's tough line could be a vote winner

Shinui - picking up former Labour supporters - was forecast to win 16 seats, an increase of 10.

Other polls made similar predictions.

The Israeli daily Ha'aretz predicted a right-wing coalition with 67 seats against a left-wing bloc of 37 seats and a centrist bloc consisting of Shinui and the One Nation party with 16 seats.

A large Arab turnout could also reduce the right-wing majority, the paper said.

Mr Sharon's tough line with the Palestinians has proved popular with voters, although support for Likud has been hit by alleged corruption scandals.

Curfews and cordons will bar all Palestinians from entering Israel until after the elections, confining most of them to their communities.

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said there had been increasing warnings about possible attacks by militants.

Gaza raid

But Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior Palestinian minister, said the operation was part of Mr Sharon's election campaign.

"It's quite obvious that this is the election card with which Sharon intends to continue his election campaign," he said.

The Israeli army carried out a raid deep into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing 12 Palestinians and leaving more than 50 wounded.