Israel: Early Elections Canceled, Unity Government Formed

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netanyahuIsraeli media reports early Tuesday indicate that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has reached an agreement with the Kadima opposition party for a unity government, canceling an early election.

There was no immediate comment from official sources on the decision that was reported at about 2 a.m.

The reports came as Israel’s parliament held debates long into the night over whether to disperse ahead of early elections called for the fall. Knesset spokesman Yotam Yakir said no final vote was taken and parliament is not dispersing.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli government proposed that the election be moved up to Sept. 4.

The election had originally been set for 2013.

According to the media reports, Netanyahu forged an agreement with opposition leader Shaul Mofaz of Kadima a short while before parliament was set to vote to disperse.

The reports said Kadima agreed to join Netanyahu’s government on condition it supports a proposal about a military deferment for chareidim. The issue was one of the main reasons Netanyahu decided to bring forward the election date. The deal stipulates that Mofaz will serve as deputy prime minister and that two other key party’s Yisrael Beitenu and Shas had agreed to the move, according to reports.

The current government is the most stable Israel has had in years. But disagreements on a variety of domestic issues such as drafting chareidim into the military and tearing down illegal structures in West Bank settlements have led Netanyahu to move up elections by more than a year.

Recent polls have suggested Netanyahu’s Likud Party would win at least one-quarter of parliament’s 120 seats to become the legislature’s largest faction – putting him in a comfortable position to form a majority coalition.

They also show he might be able to form a more moderate coalition than the hawkish lineup he now heads, in partnership with centrist parties more open to making concession to the Palestinians.

The early elections have also renewed speculation that Israel might attack Iran’s suspect nuclear program, perhaps within months.

{The Associated Press contributed to this report./Matzav.com Newscenter}


8 COMMENTS

  1. I hear Mofaz joined on condition that a law requiring all Israelis, including chareidim, to serve in the army be passed within the year?
    I saw this on the NY Times website.

    “Two other conditions of the agreement, which Mr. Harel said would be announced at a 10:30 a.m. news conference on Tuesday, were that the Parliament would pass legislation to require national or military service of all Israeli citizens, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, and to overhaul the electoral process itself.”

    Seems to me this can’t be good.

  2. This from the NY Times’ website:

    “Two other conditions of the agreement, which Mr. Harel said would be announced at a 10:30 a.m. news conference on Tuesday, were that the Parliament would pass legislation to require national or military service of all Israeli citizens, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, and to overhaul the electoral process itself.”

    Seems to me this can’t be good.

  3. I remember when they had color war fake-outs in camp!! I look forward to the real announcement of the elections!!

  4. ?? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ????????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ??????
    It could potentialy be very dangerous

  5. 3. Comment from down to earth
    Time May 7, 2012 at 10:42 PM

    “Is this good for the Jews or bad for the Jews?”

    It depends what sort of Jew one is, I suppose. Netanyahu seems to think he can form a working relationship between the Likud and Kadima – without participation of the religious parties.

    So, “you pays your money and you takes your choice”.

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