Israel in Uproar After Snap Elections Announced

Israel’s political arena was in uproar on Monday afternoon after the government announced that early elections will be held on April 9, 2019.

Speaking at the start of his ruling Likud party meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now in his fourth term as Prime Minister, addressed the public and called them to support him for another term in office.

“With God’s help and with your help, we will win,” he told the meeting, which was broadcast on national TV channels. Mr Netanyahu said that the government had achieved “outstanding” military and diplomatic achievements, stressing U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem earlier in 2018.

He also noted the ongoing operation to destroy cross-border tunnels which Israel says is dug by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia from southern Lebanon into northern Israel.

He added that he hopes to establish Israel’s next coalition with a composition similar to the current government, which was historically the most right-wing government Israel had seen.

His remarks came after heads of the government coalition issued a statement saying they have “unanimously agreed” to dissolve the Parliament and go for early elections.

Out of national and budgetary responsibility, the leaders of the coalition parties decided to dissolve the parliament and go for new elections, the statement read.

The partnership in the Parliament and in the government will continue during the elections, the statement added. Lawmakers with the opposition welcomed the decision. The upcoming elections will produce the 21st Parliament of Israel. It will be the 13th time that elections in Israel are held before the official date, out of 21 elections held in this country.