MKs nix bill extending budget timeline, making elections almost inevitable
Knesset likely to dissolve Tuesday night as legislation to buy another two weeks for budget talks is rejected with 49 MKs opposed and 47 in favor; Likud and Blue & White both face rebellion from within as each sees lawmakers vote no
Moran Azulay, Reuters |
Published: 12.22.20 , 08:28
A last-ditch effort to prevent the Knesset from dissolving automatically - and sending Israel into its fourth election in two years - failed in the early hours of Tuesday when lawmakers rejected a bill that would extend the timeline allotted the government to pass a budget.
Proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s Blue & White, the bill would have extended negotiations over the state budget to December 31 - but a vote of 49 against and 47 for the bill toppled it in the plenum.
Israel embarks on fourth election in two years as budget row topples Knesset
Parliament dissolves as deadline to approve budget expires with coalition failing to legislate extension; Netanyahu to remain as PM until vote expected to take place on March 23; Likud set to remain biggest party despite strong challenge from its ex-MK Gideon Sa ar
Ynet |
Published: 12.23.20 , 00:06
Israel headed into its fourth election campaign in two years at the stroke of midnight Tuesday, as the deadline for passing a state budget expired and the Knesset automatically dissolved by law.
Elections are expected to take place on March 23, 2021 - exactly 90 days after the Knesset dissolved as required by law.
How a rebel alliance brought Israel to brink of elections
Analysis: Despite best efforts of Likud and Blue & White leaders to secure a vote to extend budget negotiations and thereby avoid dissolving parliament, MKs from both parties hid, lied and plotted to ensure the bill did not pass
Moran Azulay |
Published: 12.22.20 , 12:05
Long hours of Knesset drama ended in the early hours of Tuesday morning with a clear message: A simple majority of lawmakers opposed a compromise to prolong budget negotiations between Likud and Blue & White in an attempt to stave off Israel s fourth elections in two years - this time to be held as the country struggled to contain the coronavirus that has devastated its economy.
Likud, Blue & White at odds as budget compromise set to fail in Knesset plenum
Knesset committee approves the bill that would delay the deadline for passing of a state budget, but MKs appear unconvinced, vowing to reject it; Likud says Gantz dragging Israel into elections because his party is falling apart
Moran Azulay |
Published: 12.21.20 , 18:03
Likud and coalition partner Blue & White are at odds over demands for solving the political deadlock as the bill, which intends to help the two sides find compromise on a state budget, is set to fall short of a majority in the Knesset plenum.
Earlier, the Central Knesset Committee approved in the first reading the bill that would see the deadline for the approval of the 2020 budget postponed until December 31 and the deadline for the 2021 budget delayed until January 5.
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Illustrative: Members of the Knesset s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee vote on the Coronavirus Bill on July 22, 2020. (Knesset)
New elections appeared almost inevitable Monday evening after the coalition’s Likud and Blue and White parties both said that their negotiations on delaying the deadline to pass a state budget had broken down and blamed each other for the failure to reach an agreement.
Blue and White has walked back all the agreements it reached with Likud, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party said in a statement after Gantz appeared to increase his demands just hours after a bill to delay the budget passed its first Knesset committee reading.