Israel facing fifth election in three years after fragile coalition collapses
- Shock announcement will give power to Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in days and force new elections
- Israel’s former leader Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a comeback despite corruption investigation
Israel is heading for its fifth election in three years as the fractious ruling coalition headed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett collapsed following a series of internal disputes.
It sets the stage for the possible return to power of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu or another period of prolonged political gridlock.
“I think the winds have changed. I feel it,” Netanyahu declared on Monday.
The previous four elections, focused on Netanyahu’s fitness to rule while facing a corruption investigation, ended in deadlock. While opinion polls project Netanyahu, who is now on trial, as the front runner, it is far from certain that his Likud party can secure the required parliamentary majority to form a new government.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a former ally and aide of Netanyahu, formed his government a year ago with the aim of halting the never-ending cycle of elections. But the fragile coalition government, which includes parties from across the political spectrum, lost its majority earlier this year and has faced rebellions from different lawmakers in recent weeks.
Announcing his plan to disband the government during a nationally televised news conference on Monday, Bennett said he had made “the right decision” in difficult circumstances.