Israel: preliminary vote of deputies in favor of dissolving parliament

Israeli lawmakers adopted, in a preliminary vote Wednesday, December 2, an opposition motion calling for the dissolution of parliament and the calling of new parliamentary elections.

Read also: Israel: disappointed with Netanyahu, Gantz says he supports a dissolution of Parliament

The motion won 61 votes in favor, including that of Benny Gantz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's partner in the governing coalition, while 54 MPs voted against, according to the Knesset.

Following this vote, the opposition motion can now be debated in parliamentary committee, thus paving the way for an eventual dissolution of the chamber and the calling of new elections.

Accusing the current unity government of being the "

" and of failing to manage the coronavirus crisis, opposition leader Yaïr Lapid called for a vote Wednesday to dissolve the Knesset, Parliament.

As early as Tuesday evening, Benny Gantz had announced his intention in favor of this motion, notably accusing the current head of government of serving his interests rather than those of the country.

A dissolution of parliament would lead to the holding of the fourth elections in less than two years in Israel, after three polls that placed the troops of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ex-army chief Benny Gantz neck and neck.

After three ballots that did not allow either Gantz or Netanyahu to rally a majority of deputies out of the 120 in the Knesset, the two rivals agreed in the spring to form a government of unity and crisis in the midst of coronavirus.

But in recent months, the local press has reported many dissensions between the two men, including the adoption of a budget for 2020 - Israel having no budget guidelines for this year - and 2021.