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A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 13 december 2019
Israelis gird for unprecedented third election in a year

By TIA GOLDENBERG ing insurrection by law-
Associated Press maker Gideon Saar, who
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israelis says the party needs a
grappled Thursday with the new leader because Ne-
confounding reality of un- tanyahu has been unable
precedented third nation- to form a government. Pri-
al elections in less than a maries are set for later this
year, after Parliament was month, but fewer than a
dissolved and the date for handful of Likud legisla-
the next vote was set — fur- tors have fallen behind
ther extending months of Saar and Netanyahu is ex-
political paralysis that has pected to be returned to
gripped the country. party leadership, despite
Legislators passed a mo- the political disarray and
tion earlier to hold elections his legal woes. Netanyahu
on March 2, hours after the faces charges of bribery,
deadline to form a coali- fraud and breach of trust
tion government expired. in three corruption cases
The motion passed with a in which he is accused of
94-0 vote in the house. trading legislative or regu-
That now triggers a nearly Supporters of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rally outside Israel’s parliament in latory favors in exchange
Jerusalem, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.
three-month-long cam- Associated Press for lavish gifts or favorable
paign ahead of the vote media coverage. Netan-
that most polls predict will blamed each other for the rival, former army chief walking along Tel Aviv’s yahu denies wrongdoing.
not produce dramatically impasse and tried setting Benny Gantz, to cobble beach-side boardwalk. Netanyahu had hoped
different results that led to the narrative for what is together coalition govern- During government ne- for a sweeping victory in
the current logjam. likely to be a grueling and ments. The costly election gotiations, both sides pro- April’s elections, winning
“This nightmare, in which caustic campaign. campaigns, government fessed eagerness to reach him a majority that would
we’re heading into elec- “The politicians were un- work on indefinite hold and a power-sharing agree- grant him immunity from
tions once again, the third able to decide and so it the perceived obstinacy of ment, but could not agree prosecution. He can can
within the space of a single goes back to the people. both sides has frustrated on its composition nor who now hope that the next
year, is neither a parable And it’s a shame. There Israelis, who are used to would lead it. Netanyahu election delivers him a
nor a dream. It is com- weren’t big differences,” fractious politics but have insisted on serving as prime more favorable result. Ne-
pletely real,” wrote Sima Foreign Minister Israel Katz, never seen repeat elec- minister, where he is best tanyahu’s trial is on hold
Kadmon in the leading Ye- a Likud lawmaker, told Is- tions. positioned to fight his re- until the immunity issue is
diot Ahronot daily. “There raeli Army Radio. “It’s very disappointing. cent indictment on a se- resolved, a process that is
aren’t words left that can Israel has been mired in Terrible, in my opinion. It’s ries of corruption charges. expected to take months.
express the public’s disgust political deadlock for also a waste of resources Gantz has refused to serve After the March election,
with and mistrust towards months, after two incon- and energy. The public is under a prime minister with he also could use coalition
its elected representatives. clusive elections and failed tired of it and I think there’s such serious legal problems negotiations as leverage
As in each previous round, attempts by both Israeli anger at all sides that can’t and called on Likud to to push potential partners
the largest parties, Li- Prime Minister Benjamin reach any kind of agree- choose a different leader. to support his immunity
kud and Blue and White, Netanyahu and his chief ment,” said Malka Miller, Likud has seen a burgeon- request.q

Baghdad mob kills teen gunman and strings up his corpse

SAMYA KULLAB of jobs. A string of myste- Protesters largely blame
MURTADA FARAJ rious acts of bloodshed by Iran-backed militias for
Associated Press unknown groups has put the attacks and see the
BAGHDAD (AP) — An an- anti-government protest- violence as a campaign
gry mob killed a 16-year- ers on edge and eroded to instill fear and weaken
old and strung up the their faith in the ability of their peaceful movement.
corpse by its feet from a state security forces to pro- Thursday’s bloodshed be-
traffic pole after the teen tect them. gan when the young gun-
shot and killed six people Last Friday, 25 protesters man opened fire in Bagh-
Thursday, including four were killed when gunmen dad’s Wathba Square, kill-
anti-government protest- in pickup trucks opened ing two shop owners and
ers, Iraqi officials said. fire in Baghdad’s Khilani four protesters..
Dozens of people point- Square. Security officials said the
ed their cellphones at That same week, mysteri- teen was wanted by
the body dangling high ous knife attacks targeted police on drug-related
above them in a central over a dozen anti-govern- charges and was running
Baghdad square. Videos ment protesters in Tahrir from security forces at the
circulating on social me- Posters of Anti-government protesters who have been killed in Square, the hub of the pro- time.
dia showed the young demonstrations are displayed in Tahrir Square during ongoing test movement. An enraged mob beat the
man being beaten and protests in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. In recent days, abduc- young man to death, se-
Associated Press
dragged across the street. tions and assassinations curity and health officials
The violence underscored 8-week-old protest move- took to the streets to decry of high-profile civil activ- said. The officials spoke on
the growing fears and sus- ment, which engulfed Iraq government corruption, ists have stoked paranoia condition of anonymity in
picions swirling around the on Oct. 1 when thousands poor services and scarcity among demonstrators. line with regulations. q