Israel to hold early elections in April

December 24, 2018 22:17

Israel's coalition government enjoying a wafer thin 61-59 majority in a 120-member Parliament on Monday decided to hold early polls in April, seven months before they are due, amidst disagreement among lawmakers over a court-ordered legislation and deliberations over possible indictment of Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu on graft charges.

The two possible election dates in April are 2nd and 9th, the Hebrew media reported.

"Out of budgetary and national responsibility, the heads of the coalition parties unanimously agreed to dissolve the Knesset and go to a new election at the beginning of April after a term of four full years," a statement released at the end of a meeting of the coalition party heads said.

There are also widespread speculations that Netanyahu may be indicted in a series of graft charges, which many analysts said was a possible reason for the early polls.

Despite ongoing disagreements over the ultra-Orthodox draft bill, which was the initial impetus for their meeting Monday, the coalition heads stressed that none of the parties will leave the government and that "the partnership in the Knesset and in the government will continue during the elections".

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid's announcement that it would vote against the Defence Ministry's bill to enlist Haredim (ultra-orthodox Jews) into the Israel Defence Forces and a small faction within the coalition also opposing the bill in its current form triggered the decision for fresh elections, the possibility of which has been widely spoken about recently irrespective of the current crisis.

The Netanyahu's government would need the support of 61 lawmakers to pass the controversial Haredi enlistment bill, which the Supreme Court directed to pass by January 15.

If the bill is not passed by then, Netanyahu as Defence Minister could be seen as breaking the law if he does not immediately enlist the Haredim en masse. -- PTI

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