Cross Posted at The Progressive Zionist
This has been talked about for a bit... well today, it's official. PM Benjamin Netanyahu has called for early elections.
Netanyahu announces early elections
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early elections on Tuesday. Netanyahu said in a televised statement he had reached the conclusion that his coalition government would not be able to agree on a national budget, adding that he has "therefore decided, for the benefit of Israel, to hold elections now and as quickly as possible." According to estimates, the elections will be held in the end of January or the beginning of February.....
.....Netanyahu held meetings last week with the heads of the other coalition parties to consider whether to step up efforts to pass the 2013 budget or move up the elections. He met with officials including Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz of his Likud party and Interior Minister Eli Yishai, who heads the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.
The prospect of early elections arose after Yishai said Shas would not support wide-ranging budget cuts, particularly cuts to benefits for the elderly, single-parent families and the poor.
Current Polls in Israel show the PM's party / Coalition winning handily:
Globes Poll conducted by Smith.
If elections held today (expressed in Knesset seats)
Current Knesset seats in [brackets].
28 [27] Likud
19 [08] Labor
16 [15] Yisrael Beitenu
11 [---] Yesh Atid
10 [11] Shas
09 [07] National Union/Jewish Home
06 [05] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
04 [28] Kadima
04 [03] Meretz
02 [05] Independence
11 [11] Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad
69 [65] Right
51 [55] Center-Left
Poll conducted 23 September 2012 by Dialogue of a
representative sample of 502 adults Israelis with a statistical error of +/- 4.2%. Poll was published by Haaretz on 28 September 2012.
If elections held today (expressed in Knesset seats)
Current Knesset seats in [brackets].
28 [27] Likud
20 [08] Labor
14 [15] Yisrael Beitenu
11 [11] Shas
08 [---] Yesh Atid
08 [28] Kadima
07 [05] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
06 [07] National Union/Jewish Home
05 [03] Meretz
02 [05] Independence
11 [11] Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad
66 [65] Right
54 [55] Center-Left
Israel Radio Poll by Smith from 14 Sep 2012
If elections were held today who would you vote for?
Current Knesset seats in [brackets]
28 [27] Likud
19 [08] Labor
15 [15] Yisrael Beitenu
11 [---] Yesh Atid
10 [11] Shas
06 [05] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
05 [03] Jewish Home
05 [28] Kadima
04 [03] Meretz
03 [04] National Union
03 [05] Independence
11 [11] Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad
67 [65] Right
53 [55] Center-Left
Now, anything can happen dependent on a number of factors. Right now, when I talk to my Israeli friends, security is a major factor on their minds. The recent penetration of a drone (most likely from Hizbollah) that was shot down after 20 mins., the movement of U.S. Patriot Batteries to the Haifa area, and 55 rockets landing in Israel shot from Gaza are a big factor in discussions.
ALSO, the budget, and the Likud's plans to privatize more and more of the country opening it for economic piracy that comes with privatization.
Don't forget that finally there is the U.S. election. No one knows what will happen but one concern the PM has is what he perceives as "payback" should the President be re-elected. However, given the President's strong friendship with Israel, I don't see that really being an issue.
Anyway... Let the speculation begin.