Israel towards elections, government will dissolve the Knesset

The Israeli government intends to dissolve parliament and call new elections. This was announced in a joint statement by the two architects of the ruling coalition, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid who say they have “exhausted” all efforts to hold the executive together in the face of the rebellions of deputies of the fragile majority . The centrist Lapid will take on the interim as prime minister after the dissolution of parliament. The measure for the dissolution of the Knesset will be put to a vote next Monday, with elections due to take place on 25 October. This is how the eight-party coalition that had put an end to Benjamin Netanyahu’s long political reign, uniting parties of the right, center, and left as well as an Arab party, begins to conclude after a year. Israel is about to return to the polls for the fifth time in three and a half years. The imminent demise of Naftali Bennett’s rule was hailed by Netanyahu as “great news for millions of Israeli citizens”. “It is clear to everyone that the worst government in the history of Israel has come to an end,” added ‘Bibi’, in a statement picked up by the Israeli media. Netanyahu promised to form “a large national government” led by his Likud party. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz was not informed of the decision to dissolve the government he is a part of. Sources from his centrist ‘Blue and White’ party told the Times of Israel. It is “a shame that the country should be dragged into elections,” Gantz said, adding however that he did not want to “judge” the prime minister’s decision. Bennett and the foreign minister Lapid.