Israeli parliament moves toward new elections

JERUSALEM – Israel took a step toward plunging into its fourth national election in less than two years on Wednesday as lawmakers – supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main coalition partner – passed a preliminary proposal to dissolve parliament.

The 61-54 vote came seven months after the coalition took office after three inconclusive elections in just over a year. Netanyahu’s Likud party and Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s Blue and White said they were seeking national unity to confront the coronavirus crisis. But since then, the rivals have been locked in infighting.

The vote gave only preliminary approval to ending the alliance and forcing a new election early next year. The legislation now heads to a committee before parliament takes up final approval, perhaps as soon as next week. Gantz and Netanyahu are expected to continue negotiations in a last-ditch attempt to preserve their troubled alliance. By joining the opposition in Wednesday’s vote, Gantz’s party voiced its dissatisfaction with Netanyahu, accusing him of putting personal interests ahead of those of the country.

Netanyahu faces trial on a series of corruption charges, and Gantz accuses the prime minister of hindering key governmental work, including the passage of a budget, in hopes of stalling or overturning the legal proceedings. Gantz and other critics believe Netanyahu hopes to see a friendlier parliament elected next year that will give him immunity from prosecution. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party sponsored the bill to trigger new elections, accused the government of mishandling of the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout. He said all citizens share “the feeling that they lost control over their lives.”

The government has not passed a budget for 2020, a result of the deep divisions produced by its power-sharing agreement. The lack of budget has caused hardships and cutbacks for Israelis at a time when unemployment is estimated at over 20%.