What else can be done to prevent elections? • What are the demands of rivalry in the coalition? • And what is the weight of the Finance Committee in the process? • All the information about the political tangle

• Netanyahu and Gantz. Is there a chance to avoid elections?

  Photo: 

  Olivia Fitoussi - Flash 90

If there is no dramatic development in the coming days, Israel will enter a fourth election in a year and a half. The date of the 24th Knesset elections will be November 17. Is there a way to prevent the move? "Israel Today" clarifies the current situation and puts the political entanglement in order.

Why is there a fear that the election will be brought forward ?

Because according to the law, the government must bring the budget law to the Knesset for approval no later than August 24 at midnight. If a budget of at least 61 MKs is not approved by this date, new elections will be held.

Photo: Knesset Channel

How, after all, can the election be prevented ?

The Likud and Blue and White, in coordination with the other coalition partners, must reach an agreement by August 24 on the duration of the period to which the new budget will apply. In recent days, there have been no contacts between the parties. Relations between the Likud and Blue and White have deteriorated in recent days into mutual accusations. The rocks of controversy are: the blue-and-white demand to approve a biennial budget versus the Likud's demand to pass an annual budget and the Likud's demand to set criteria designed to allow them to gain control of the senior appointments committee ahead of the government spokesman, state attorney and police commissioner.

Are there more options ?

Yes. To approve in the second and third reading of the bill initiated by MK Zvi Hauser (Derech Eretz) according to which the deadline for approving the budget will be postponed until December 3. This period will give the Likud and the Blue and White enough time to settle their disputes. To discuss the preparation of the bill for a second and third reading, but the demands made by coalition chairman MK Miki Zohar did not receive blue-and-white support. As long as the Finance Committee does not approve the bill, it cannot be brought to final approval in the Knesset plenum.

More on this topic:

• Netanyahu instructed Likud MKs: "From now on - act as if going to the polls"

• Senior Likud official: "If we go to the polls on Monday, it is terrible - but the current situation is worse"

• In blue and white, respond to Likud: "Sticks and tricks increase"

What are the Likud's demands ?

The chairman of the coalition today demanded in the Finance Committee that the budget to be approved include a 5% increase for the extension period, as well as approval of budgets for religious Zionism and yeshivas. Blue and White rejected these demands outright and insisted that the law be approved without any additions.