Israel headed to elections as Netanyahu’s coalition dissolves parliament

Washington Post ^ | December 24, 2018 | Ruth Eglash

[C19fan]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition announced Monday plans to dissolve the country’s parliament and hold a snap general election in April, after his government was significantly weakened more than a month ago when a key coalition partner resigned. The departure of Avigdor Liberman as defense minister on Nov. 14 left Netanyahu’s government teetering on the edge with a single-seat majority in Israel’s 120-seat parliament, the Knesset. As the government struggled to pass legislation important to each of Netanyahu’s five coalition partners, questions were also raised over the chances of a formal indictment against the longtime Israeli leader in at least three criminal bribery cases against him. On Monday, it was an attempt to pass controversial legislation aimed at drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military that ultimately prompted the 61-member coalition to agree unanimously that this government could no longer survive under the current circumstances.

[C19fan]

Bibi is under a cloud of possible indictment for corruption. The trigger for dissolving the Knesset was a vote over a bill to draft Ultra-Orthodox Jews into the IDF. Currently, Ultra-Orthodox are exempt but with their numbers in Israel growing the more secular Jews are demanding they share the burden of defending the country.

[Sacajaweau]

They put Bibi under a cloud for every election. Israel is lost without Bibi.

[Blue House Sue]

” The trigger for dissolving the Knesset was a vote over a bill to draft Ultra-Orthodox Jews into the IDF.”

When drafted, will have have to be seated next to women on military transports?

Better yet, will they be required to travel on aircraft piloted by women?

[jjotto]

There are several very good potential successors to Netanyahu. Avigdor Lieberman, and Naftali Bennett would be excellent. Moshe Kahlon, a kind of Israeli Mitt Romney, could be he next PM should Israelis go timid.

Anyone watching knows this government was going to dissolve for several months.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Israel is lost without Bibi.

Israel is much more than Bibi Netanyahu. With Trump, a strong, vocal ally of Israel, in the WH this may be the right time for BiBi to step aside.

He would serve his country well as a senior statesman while new blood assumes the mantle of control.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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[ColdOne]

Howdy....good to see ya here! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours! God Bless!

[Right_in_Virginia]

Howdy! Right back at ya!

Merry Christmas to you and yours, too! I miss talking with you. Well .... I’ve got a New Year’s resolution. :)

Big hugs!!

[SunkenCiv]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud-led coalition...

Fixed it. Thanks C19fan.