A bill for new elections was presented in the Knesset Tuesday by lawmakers from both major parties, Likud and Blue and White, signaling an ignominious end to the short-lived 22nd Knesset.
The legislation sets the date of the next general election at March 2, 2020, marking an unprecedented third election within 11 months, after the last two votes on April 9 and September 17.
The bill was drafted by Blue and White lawmakers Avi Nissenkorn, Meir Cohen and Tzvi Hauser, together with Likud’s MKs Miki Zohar and Shlomo Karai.
“These are not the pieces of legislation I had hoped to submit as a public representative, and I still hope that we can pull them tomorrow before midnight and announce the establishment of a broad unity government,” said Nissenkorn, who had also co-sponsored legislation to dissolve the 21st Knesset in his first term as an MK.
Lawmakers will vote Wednesday on four readings of the bill. The debates are expected to begin in the afternoon, with the final votes due by midnight.
Following the filing of the bill, Blue and White chief Benny Gantz said there was still time to avoid “costly and unnecessary” elections. He said his party was “making every effort” to form a government without giving up its principles.
He also called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce he would not seek parliamentary immunity.
“Do this so that we can find a solution and form a government,” Gantz added.
In response, Netanyahu said Gantz was engaging in “spin.”
“After 80 the time has come that one day, for the good of the citizens of the State of Israel, we’ll sit and seriously discuss the formation of a broad unity government. It is still not too late,” Netanyahu tweeted.
The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s developments as they unfold.
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