Dissolution of the Knesset: Israel, political "gold medal for instability"
Mural representing Benny Gantz (left) and Benyamin Netanyahu (right).
JACK GUEZ / AFP
Text by: Sami Boukhelifa Follow
4 min
The Jewish state is deadlocked after the dissolution of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
At the origin of this umpteenth political crisis, the impossible alliance between Likud, the party of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Bleu Blanc, led by his rival, Benny Gantz.
The two parties in power have not found an agreement on the budget.
This paves the way for the fourth parliamentary elections in less than two years.
The ballot will be held next March.
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From our correspondent in Jerusalem
,
Since 1996, Israelis have gone to the polls almost every two and a half years, according to the Israel Democratic Institute (IDI), a Jerusalem-based analysis center.
A democratic exercise, of course, but above all a sign of a deep political instability which is undermining the country.
1996 is also the first time that
Benyamin Netanyahu
comes to power.
For some Israeli observers, the link is established.
"It is Benyamin Netanyahu who is at the origin of this new crisis"
, explains Yohanan Plesner, director of the IDI.
"The situation will never be able to improve as long as he remains in office",
adds the expert, also a former deputy of the centrist Kadima party.
Last spring, however, there was a glimmer of hope.
After three ballots in the space of a few months, the Likud of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Bleu Blanc, of his political opponent
Benny Gantz
, form a government of “unity and emergency”.
They agree to vote a single budget for 2020 and 2021. And above all, the two leaders must successively share the post of Prime Minister.
But the two politicians have spent the last few months insulting each other through the media.
And finally, none of their commitments were kept.
But it is the lack of agreement on the budget that led to the dissolution of the Knesset, and therefore to the organization of new legislative elections on March 23.
Fourth ballot in two years
Even before the dissolution of the Knesset, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu launched his election campaign by posting a video on his Twitter account.
A short message, in which he calls on the Israelis to vote massively for his party: Likud.
►Also read: Israel plunges back into political crisis after the dissolution of the Knesset
Once again, this election race is a leap into the unknown.
The Israeli political landscape is more fragmented than ever.
No clear majority emerges.
A poll that has just been published puts Likud at the head of the next election.
However, Benjamin Netanyahu will not have a sufficient number of seats in the Knesset to form a government.
Bleu Blanc almost completely disappears from the political spectrum.
Benny Gantz pays for his failed alliance with his rival, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel is expected to win
"the gold medal for instability,"
regrets specialist Yohanan Plesner, during an online conference in Jerusalem.
Especially since the next few months will further destabilize the country, with the trial of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli Prime Minister
is charged with corruption, fraud and breach of trust.
He will face the judges in January.
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Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benny Gantz
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Israel falls back into political crisis after Knesset dissolves