Israel is heading towards its fourth national election in the space of two years, as the Israeli Knesset (parliament) this week passed a preliminary bill to dissolve itself.
The vote passed on Wednesday with support from Defence Minister Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party, which entered into a power-sharing deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in April. 61 MKs voted in favour of dissolution and 54 were against.
The bill still requires further readings in the Knesset before a new election is called, but there is potential for further legislation to formally dissolve the house as soon as next week, which would lead to an election in the spring.
In a televised speech on the eve of the vote, Mr Gantz blamed Mr Netanyahu for delays in agreeing a budget, which he called “an economic terror attack”.
PM Netanyahu said it was “not the time for elections – this is the time for unity”.
Israel is still operating on a version of the 2019 budget which was approved in 2018. The government’s deadline to pass budget legislation is 23rd December.
Negotiations between Blue and White and PM Netanyahu’s Likud party are expected to continue in the coming days in the hopes of avoiding an election.
Under the terms of the coalition government formed in May, Benjamin Netanyahu was to as Prime Minister for the first 18 months, after which Gantz would take the role for the remainder of a three-year term.
