For the third time in less than a year, Israeli political parties are moving towards a new legislative election. Israeli parliamentarians approved Wednesday, December 11 at first reading a bill for the holding of new elections on March 2. Elections that look like a new duel between Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and rival Benny Gantz.
Israeli MPs theoretically have until 11:59 pm Wednesday to offer an unexpected majority to both rivals, elbow-to-elbow in the elections of April and September and each time unable to rally 61 elected on the 120 of Parliament. In the absence of agreement, this hemicycle will disappear on the 12th stroke of midnight.
On Wednesday morning, a parliamentary committee proposed to rush things in and reunite the members to vote directly for the dissolution of the Knesset, Parliament, to call new elections on March 2. In the process, MPs held a preliminary vote to dissolve Parliament and hold elections on that date, just before the Jewish holiday of Purim.
This project must be the subject of other votes during the day, but immediately reduces the chances of securing a last-minute agreement for the formation of a unity government, MM. Netanyahu and Gantz being unable to agree to share power.
The media jokes about a possible 4th election
Judicial cases are at the heart of this dispute. The longest-serving prime minister in the history of Israel – thirteen years, the last decade without stopping – Mr. Netanyahu, 70 years old, was charged late November for corruption, breach of trust and embezzlement in a series of 'business. Some of his relatives, including his lawyer, must also be indicted for money laundering, for the purchase of submarines to the German company ThyssenKrupp.
Mr Netanyahu wanted to lead a possible unity government first, in the hope, inter alia, of obtaining judicial immunity, which Mr Gantz refused, believing that his rival had to settle his dispute with the law before taking up the post of Prime Minister.
Between the two rivals stands the nationalist Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Israel Beitenou formation, the only one who remained unaligned and whose support to MM. Netanyahu or Gantz could be enough to win a majority and avoid new elections.
"A key value for me is friendship. It's something that's totally foreign to youcommented Mr Lieberman on Mr Netanyahu, whom he was once close to.
Despite this criticism, "King maker" Lieberman has not played his trump in recent months, leading Israel to new elections, much to the dismay of a part of the population and some of the media that are already ironic about the date of … 4th election.
In the event of a new vote, the latest polls, broadcast this week by the Kan channel, place Mr. Netanyahu's Likud and Mr. Gantz's Kahol Lavan (Blue White, the colors of the flag) formation in a handkerchief.
Primary Likud?
Faced with a challenge within his own camp, led by MP Gideon Saar, Benjamin Netanyahu opened the door to primaries to designate the leader of Likud, while ensuring he would win such an internal poll.
To boost his support, Mr. Netanyahu has already stressed the importance, he said, of moving forward with his plan to annex a strategic plan for the occupied West Bank and to sign a defense treaty. common with the United States.
Netanyahu is said to be close to US President Donald Trump, who has recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and recently ruled that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank were not contrary to international law. Hence the Israeli Prime Minister's statement that he is the only one, thanks to his relations with the Trump administration, to be able to advance these sensitive issues.
For its part, the party of Benny Gantz has somehow endorsed the future candidacy of the former military for the post of prime minister. The statutes of the training plan alternate with his partner Yair Lapid as headliner elections. But Mr Lapid said Monday to the deputies Bleu Blanc that he left all the room to Mr. Gantz in this remake to come.
"The important thing is neither rotation nor siege, but liberation war, to free the country from corruption"he said, perhaps setting the tone for the upcoming game.
