From the moment Israel’s fractured far-right coalition government came together, people have been wondering how long it would last. It seems the end is just about here, with some officials saying the currently recessed parliament, the Knesset, may not meet again.
Instead, they say, Netanyahu will dissolve the Knesset before it reconvenes one week form Monday, setting the stage for elections some time in February. The move is a function of both the growing budget crisis in Israel and the rise of several high profile political disputes.
The most surprising dispute, that between Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Ehud Barak, was the result of a failed attempt by Barak to push his way into Netanyahu’s Likud Party, which involved him demanding very high ranking spots on their election list for himself and his remaining political allies.
At the last election, Barak was the leader of the center-left Labor Party, but his hawkish tendencies and cushy relationship with the far-right coalition government eventually split the party, with Barak and a few aides forming the Independence Party, whose ill-defined “centrist” platform seemed to begin and end with seeking a top cabinet spot for Barak.
Ultimately, Independence may not survive the new election, with early polls suggesting Barak would be lucky enough to get a single seat for himself next time around. With his plan to join the right-wing Likud apparently not working too well either, his political future remains murky.
Dissolve parlament …soon UN will dissolve whole Israel. For benefit of World Peace!!! peter czech
Peter: Right on :)) Just not the UN – the people.
"Instead, they say, Netanyahu will dissolve the Knesset before it reconvenes one week form Monday, setting the stage for elections some time in February."
Does this mean the government will run on autopilot with no parliamentary oversight or discussion until march? Right across the US presidential elections, the Syria conflagration and whatnot? Anyone care to comment on what this means politically?
The article in the Daily Times linked to also implies that the dissolution is due only to unresolvable budget issues not to anything involving war with Iran or anything (In other words, 'austerity yes or no'; I wonder what "austerity" means in an Israeli context. "austerity" generally means "leave military/pork/bailout/subsidy-to-wellconnectedpeople programs intact but scale back impossible-to-finance welfare programs now instead of tomorrow" – I suppose it means the same here)
"his political future remains murky"
I suppose the money is in the freezer, so no problem.
I think it's a safe bet that the Israelis will be coming to the US Congress (Israel-Firsters like Eric Cantor) to increase their stipend over and above what they already receive. I think I've already seen a story reporting the Israelis are requesting an increase in military hardware – courtesy of the US taxpayer, or course.
That would be a dream come true,and stop ''TERRORISM'' by probably 50% right away.No Israel warmongering and no American paid terrorist starting so called civil wars in the Mid East and other countrys would drop terrism almost completly.But because of Blowback from Americas war crimes it will take many generations before people are not angerd about all their friends and familly that were murderd and were not even fighting with the freedom fighters. I've mentioned this many times but it's important, Israel has broken over 70 UN resolutions more than the entire Mid East combined,Palistine 0.Israel leads the world in broken UN resolutions and Nato follows no international laws but demand others do, even when it comes to protecting their countrys and cililians along with the rights being taken away from them illegaly.Just like America takes it's citizens rights against the law like the Constitution and the Bill Of Rights.All the laws that onnce made America a good place to live now a place I would hate to live.