Israel to hold snap election - the country’s fourth in two years

Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Israel is heading to its fourth elections in two years as failure to reach a budget brings a collapse of the current government.

A deadline for parliament to pass a new budget passed at midnight, forcing the Knesset to dissolve and automatically triggering new elections on March 23.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, Benny Gantz, formed their coalition in May to take on the challenges of the coronavirus crisis.

But their partnership has been plagued by mistrust and infighting.

Opinion polls indicate that if elections were held today, Mr Netanyahu would face a tough threat from a trio of disgruntled former allies who share his hardline ideology, but object to his personal style of governing.

Some political analysts said Mr Netanyahu had hoped to use the budget dispute to force an election that would get him out of the power-sharing deal with Mr Gantz.

But they said he had preferred a ballot in May or June, when the vaccination campaign now underway could bring him more voters.

"If an election is forced upon us, I promise you that we will win,” Mr Netanyahu said in a televised speech on Tuesday, blaming Mr Gantz - who has plunged in the polls - for the early ballot.

"Netanyahu is taking us to an election for the sole purpose of not going to jail," Mr Gantz wrote on Twitter, alleging Mr Netanyahu hoped for a new government to promote legislation quashing legal proceedings against him.

Mr Netanyahu will remain prime minister until a new government is formed after the March election.

Now 71, he first served in the post from 1996 to 1999 and has held the office since 2009.

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