Netanyahu announces early elections [View all]
Source: Haaretz
According to estimates, the elections will be held in the end of January or the beginning of February; Netanyahu looking to use his positive approval rate to prevent potential rivals from strengthening their platforms.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early elections on Tuesday. According to estimates, the elections will be held in the end of January or the beginning of February.
After pushing the "red line" for Iran to the summer in his UN General Assembly speech, sources close to Netanyahu said his statements meant the elections will be held earlier than planned. This, both in order to force a security-oriented agenda on the rivals' campaigns, and because of Netanyahu's concern over U.S. President Barack Obama's likely reelection and fear of diplomatic retaliation for the Israeli premier's support of Republican candidate Mitt Romney.
Netanyahu is also looking to use his relatively positive approval rate and the Likud party's good standing in the polls to prevent potential rivals from strengthening their platforms. Absent a move toward an early vote, the country would go to the polls next autumn.
Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/netanyahu-announces-early-elections-1.468944
= new reply since forum marked as read