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A6 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 3 december 2020

Israeli parliament takes step toward new national elections

they are held, the better.
By pushing for an election
early next year, he seems
to be banking that Netan-
yahu will be punished by
voters for a still-raging pan-
demic, a struggling econo-
my and the resumption of
his corruption trial.
Starting in February, Ne-
tanyahu's corruption trial
is scheduled to kick into
high gear, with a string of
witnesses testifying against
him. The prime minister ex-
pected to be a frequent
visitor to the courtroom.
Netanyahu, on the other
hand, is expected to try
to drag out budget talks
to delay elections until
the summer in hopes that
a vaccine will arrive and
the economy will begin to
recover. If he can put to-
gether a hardline coalition
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement to his Likud party in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. at that time, he might fi-
Associated Press nally be positioned to push
By ILAN BEN ZION party voiced its dissatis- demic. know the truth," Gantz said through an immunity bill
Associated Press faction with Netanyahu, In a nationally broadcast in the video. "If there was or appoint new judicial of-
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel accusing him of putting news conference Wednes- no trial, there would be a ficials to freeze or overturn
took a major step toward his own personal inter- day evening, Netanyahu budget. If there was no tri- his case.
plunging into its fourth na- ests ahead of those of the delivered a mixed mes- al, there would be a func- "Over the last two years,
tional election in under country. sage, calling on Gantz to tioning government. There the only question you need
two years on Wednesday Netanyahu is on trial for a remain in the government would be unity." to ask is not what is best for
as lawmakers — supported series of corruption charg- but also sounding very Israel has gone through the country and not what
by Prime Minister Benjamin es, and Gantz accuses the much like a politician on two nationwide lockdowns is best for this or that party,
Netanyahu's main coalition prime minister of hindering the campaign trail. since March, and officials but what is in the best inter-
partner — passed a prelimi- key governmental work, Netanyahu began his ad- are already warning that est of Benjamin Netanya-
nary proposal to dissolve including the passage of a dress by claiming credit rising infections could result hu," Gayil Tashir, a political
parliament. national budget, in hopes for leading the battle in a return to strict restric- scientist at Hebrew Universi-
The 61-54 vote came just of stalling or overturning the against the coronavirus, tions that were only recent- ty, told reporters. She said it
seven months after the legal proceedings against forging diplomatic agree- ly lifted. looks like Netanyahu thinks
coalition took office fol- him. Gantz and other crit- ments with Gulf Arab coun- If a budget for 2020 isn't it is his best interest to hold
lowing three inconclusive ics believe Netanyahu is tries and protecting Israel passed by Dec. 23, Israeli an election next summer.
elections in just over a year. ultimately hoping to see a against its enemies in the law stipulates an automat- One wild card in any Israeli
Netanyahu's Likud party friendlier parliament elect- region. ic dissolution of parliament election will be the admin-
and Defense Minister Ben- ed next year that will give He derisively referred to and new elections three istration of President-elect
ny Gantz's Blue and White him immunity from pros- Gantz's party as "an oppo- months later in late March. Joe Biden.
said they were seeking na- ecution. sition within the coalition" Under the coalition deal, Netanyahu has had a close
tional unity to confront the Opposition leader Yair La- and skirted around ques- Netanyahu is to serve as relationship with President
coronavirus crisis. But since pid, whose Yesh Atid party tions about passing the prime minister until Novem- Donald Trump after clash-
then, the rivals have been sponsored the bill to trigger budget or honoring the ber 2021, with the job rotat- ing with President Barack
locked in infighting. new elections, accused rotation agreement with ing to Gantz for 18 months Obama for the previous
The vote gave only prelimi- the government of gross Gantz. after that. The only way eight years. Israeli officials
nary approval to ending mishandling of the coro- "In dramatic times like Netanyahu can hold onto fear that Biden, who was
the alliance and forcing navirus crisis and its eco- these, we don't need to go his seat and get out of that Obama's vice president,
a new election early next nomic fallout. He said the to elections. The people of agreement is if a budget will return to the policies
year. one thing all citizens share Israel want unity, not bal- doesn't pass and new elec- of that era, especially re-
The legislation now heads is "the feeling that they lost lots. It wants vaccines, and tions are held. newing possible diplomatic
to a committee before par- control over their lives." not campaign ads," he There were no indications engagement with archen-
liament as a whole takes The government still has not said. "The only way we can that either side is interested emy Iran.
up final approval, perhaps yet passed a budget for defeat corona is defeating in preserving their partner- Tashir said this would be a
as soon as next week. In 2020, a result of the deep it together. We need to put ship for the long run. In- "big issue" in the next Israeli
the meantime, Gantz and divisions produced by its politics aside." stead, the battle is expect- campaign.
Netanyahu are expected power-sharing agreement. Gantz, meanwhile, re- ed to be over when the "Netanyahu is going to
to continue negotiations The lack of budget has leased a video blaming election will be held. put forward an argument
in a last-ditch attempt to caused severe hardships Netanyahu for the political Although Gantz's party has which says 'I'm the only Is-
preserve their troubled alli- and cutbacks for Israelis paralysis and economic plummeted in opinion polls, raeli leader who can ac-
ance. at a time when unemploy- damage resulting from the he appears to have con- tually stand up against a
By joining the opposition in ment is estimated at over pandemic. cluded that elections are Biden administration,'" she
Wednesday's vote, Gantz's 20% because of the pan- "We all know the truth. You inevitable and the sooner said.q