Israeli Elections
“In the name of budgetary and national responsibility, party leaders in the coalition agreed unanimously to dissolve the Knesset and go to new elections at the beginning of April, following a full four-year term,” said a government spokesperson on behalf of the parties.
Knesset members can opt to reject their pay increases. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu Party decided that its members would waive the increase.
Crises that threaten to collapse the coalition may have less to do with fundamental issues of governance and more to do with political posturing.
The bill aims to prevent the left from teaming with foreign donors who reportedly plan to spend millions on campaigns to convince the public to vote the Israeli prime minister out of office.
“The Israeli public takes seriously what happens in this country,” said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. “The public is involved, is informed, and most importantly, goes and votes.”
After Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s resignation sparks a potential political crisis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu names himself defense minister and explains that early elections would be unwise at this time, given the complex security threats facing Israel.
The threat of early elections is seemingly lifted as Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett pulls his demand to be named defense minister and says he will stand by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ahead of the recent Gaza flare-up, the idea of early elections had already been floated by members of the government, as well as by members of the opposition.
Ongoing speculation revolves around the Jewish Home Party, headed by Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leaving the governing coalition.
Jerusalem will face a runoff for mayor between Ofer Berkovitch and Moshe Lion, and Haifa’s mayor of 15 years was upset by the city’s first female mayor-elect, Einat Kalisch Rotem.
Israelis headed to the polls on Tuesday to vote in municipal elections, with 863 candidates vying for mayoral positions and 3,400 people campaigning to be elected heads of regional councils.
He is doing so in the midst of legal troubles, pending controversial legislation and feuding among his top ministers.
