Israel's next election to be held on March 17, Knesset faction heads decide

[Israeli]

MKs vote to dissolve parliament, in preliminary reading; moves comes less than 36 hours after Netanyahu fired top ministers Livni and Lapid and accused them of orchestrating 'putsch' against him.

By Jonathan Lis

The election for Israel's 20th Knesset will be held on March 17, Knesset faction heads decided on Wednesday. Final approval of the date must still be given by members of the factions themselves, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said.

Shortly after the announcement, the MKs voted 84-0 in favor of dissolving parliament, in a preliminary reading. There was one abstention.

The umbrella proposal gives the Knesset three-to-five months to prepare for elections following dissolution. The proposal must be brought for three more readings at the Knesset plenum next week. Once approved, the Knesset will head to elections recess.

The path for elections was set by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Tuesday fired Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and accused them in a combative televised address of mounting a “putsch” against him and forcing the need for “swift elections.”

Source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.629758

[Israeli]

1. And it starts .....

Channel 2/Midgam

22 Likud
17 Bayit Yehudi
13 Labor
11 Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al & Balad
10 Yisrael Beitenu
10 New Kachlon Party
9 Yesh Atid
9 Shas
8 Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
7 Meretz
4 Hatnua

Teleseker/Walla:

23 Likud
17 Bayit Yehudi
12 Labor
12 Yisrael Beitenu
11 Yesh Atid
10 New Kachlon Party
8 Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
7 Shas
5 Meretz
5 Hatnuah
5 Ra’am-Ta’al
3 Hadash

[geek tragedy]

2. Looks like Bibi is looking for an extreme right coalition to win.

One more step towards the inevitable embrace of apartheid.

Hopefully this will also continue the trend of eroding this "special relationship" horseshit between Israel and the US.

[LeftishBrit]

3. What a mess

Netanyahu has sacked the people who have some sense, and is obviously only listening to the Israeli versions of the 'teabaggers'.

I hope the next election achieves something reasonable, but the recent track record for that has not been good.