Israelis will return to the ballot box for the third consecutive national election in 11 months on 2nd March after its political leaders again failed to build a governing coalition. The unprecedented crisis has left the country in political limbo for a year.
The Knesset was automatically dissolved at midnight on Wednesday 11th December.
Following both previous elections, neither Benny Gantz’s Blue and White nor Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud had enough allies to form a government without the other or the support of the Yisrael Beitenu party, but the two parties could not finalise the terms for a unity coalition.
Meanwhile, the battle for Likud leadership has commenced, with Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger, Gideon Saar, launching their campaigns ahead of the 26th December primary election. Saar has so far secured the support of five out of 32 Likud Knesset members, as well as key mayors and regional council leaders.
