Analysis - Economic issues whip up Israelis in chocolate pudding election

A customer checks loaves of bread at a bakery in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon December 18, 2014. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's high cost of living is set to dominate a March 17 election that could shake up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, with voter anger symbolised by an overpriced dessert.

In a country where the influence of small parties makes elections notoriously hard to forecast, many experts still expect rightwing leader Netanyahu to keep power. But the focus on domestic policy and economics, rather than on security and Palestinian peacemaking, means the outcome is even more difficult to predict than usual.