Israel edges towards early election amid Netanyahu-Gantz feud

Parliament gave preliminary approval to a dissolution bill, but the legislation needs to pass three as yet unscheduled votes to become law, giving Netanyahu and Gantz, the defence minister, more time to work out differences over a national budget.

The coalition crisis could plunge Israel into more political uncertainty as it prepares for a new U.S. administration led by Joe Biden, deals with the coronavirus pandemic and awaits Iran’s next moves after the assassination of its top nuclear scientist last week, a killing that Tehran blamed on Israel.

“The ‘anyone but Bibi’ camp is dragging Israel towards unnecessary elections,” Mikki Zohar, a senior legislator from Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, wrote on Twitter, using the 71-year-old prime minister’s nickname.

Under a “rotation” arrangement that was part of a coalition deal in May, Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White party, is due to take over from Israel’s longest-serving leader in November 2021.

But even as the pact was being inked, amid promises of political unity in dealing with Israel’s many challenges, few political commentators believed Netanyahu, on trial for alleged corruption which he denies, would relinquish his powerful post.

“Now is not the time for elections. It is now time for unity,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday.

With final passage of the dissolution bill still uncertain, the budget dispute could in itself trigger a new election. Under law, failure to pass a budget by a Dec. 23 deadline means Israel would go to the polls in March.