clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Israel parliament votes to dissolve itself triggering an election

December 27, 2018 at 10:07 am

The Israeli Knesset voted to dissolve itself yesterday evening, a decision which will lead to early elections in April 2019.

Israeli news outlet Ynet News reported that 105 members of the Knesset voted for the government-initiated bill; none objected, while other votes to disperse the Knesset, initiated by several different MKs, were also approved during the assembly.

Arab member of the Knesset, Aida Touma-Sliman of the Joint List, said that despite talks of having early elections, “it is already late, this government had to be dissolved a long time ago.”

She added that the right-wing Israeli government has been inciting against Arabs since day one when Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis: “The right-wing government is in danger. Arab voters are heading to the polling stations in droves. Left-wing NGOs are bringing them in buses.”

According to Ynet, regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said “this is an exciting moment”, and that “the public knows there are investigations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but has also heard him firmly declare his innocence.”

“It’s unheard of that the decision of a clerk—even a senior and an honest one like Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit—will cause a prime minister to have to leave office, as if the decision that the public took during elections means nothing.”

Netanyahu is currently entangled in four political scandals: Case 1000 which involves allegations that the PM and his wife accepted illegal gifts from businessmen; Case 2000 which accuses Netanyahu of attempting to buy favourable newspaper coverage; Case 3000, also known as the “submarine scandal”; and Case 4000, in which a close associate of Netanyahu is suspected of providing confidential information to Israel’s largest telecoms company.

Ex-Israel PM: Netanyahu not fit to remain prime minister