Never seen for the Jewish state. Israel will convene, at the beginning of March, a third election in less than a year, the scent of a new duel between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now indicted for corruption, and his rival Benny Gantz.
Israeli MPs had until 11:59 pm (21:59 GMT) Wednesday, December 11 to offer an unexpected majority to both rivals, elbow to elbow in the elections of April and September and each time in the inability to rally 61 of the 120 elected members of Parliament. In the absence of agreement, the hemicycle was dissolved in the evening.
New elections will be held in early March, most likely on Monday 2, with the exact date still under discussion.
The camps of Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, who had been unable for months to agree on a power-sharing, were already picking their weapons for the upcoming elections. "They are pushing us towards new elections ... and the only thing to do is to win them, to win a big victory, and that's what we will do," Benjamin Netanyahu commented on Wednesday night.
Judicial immunity at stake
Judicial cases are at the heart of this clash. The longest-serving prime minister in the history of Israel - 13 years, whose last decade without stopping -, Benjamin Netanyahu, 70, was indicted late November for corruption, breach of trust and embezzlement in a series of business.
He wanted to lead a unity government, hoping in particular to obtain judicial immunity, which Benny Gantz refused, considering that his rival had to settle his disputes with the law before taking up the post of prime minister.
"It looks like we are entering a third round of elections today because of Benjamin Netanyahu's attempt to obtain immunity," Benny Gantz said on Wednesday.
In the event of a new vote, Mr. Netanyahu's Likud and Mr. Gantz's Kahol Lavan ("Blue-white", the colors of the flag) will always be in a handkerchief, according to recent polls.
Primary Likud?
Despite his charges, Benjamin Netanyahu managed to avoid defections in his camp, which could have fed the ranks of his rival.
The Prime Minister is still facing a protest in his party, the Likud, led by MP Gideon Saar, who is demanding the holding of primaries to appoint the head of training for the new ballot.
To boost his support, Benjamin Netanyahu has already stressed the importance of moving forward with his plan to annex a strategic map of the occupied West Bank, and to sign a joint defense treaty with the West Bank. United States.
The party of Benny Gantz has somehow already endorsed the new candidacy of the former military, even if the statutes of the training provide for alternation with his partner Yair Lapid as headliner elections.
But he said he was giving Benny Gantz plenty of room in this upcoming remake: "The important thing is not rotation or siege, but liberation war, to free the country from corruption. . "
With AFP
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