Netanyahu seeks early election, fires top ministers
Updated: 2014-12-03 10:07
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pictured during a news conference at his office in Jerusalem December 2, 2014. [Photo/Agencies] |
JERUSALEM - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked his finance and justice ministers on Tuesday, signalling the break up of his bickering coalition and opening the way for early national elections in Israel.
Netanyahu's government, which only took office last year, has been unraveling over an array of issues, including the 2015 budget and a Jewish nation-state bill that critics say discriminates against Arab citizens.
Two television polls on Tuesday said Netanyahu's rightist Likud party would emerge once again as the largest group in parliament if elections were held today, almost certainly ensuring him a fourth term as prime minister.
The next national ballot is not scheduled until 2017, but Netanyahu announced that he wanted to dissolve parliament "as soon as possible" and hold an early election.
He also ordered the dismissals of Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, the heads of two separate centrist parties who have been chaffing against the right-wingers that predominate in the cabinet.
Netanyahu said Lapid and Livni had quietly tried to form an alternative coalition. "In one word, that is called a putsch. And that makes it impossible to run a government," he said in a televised news conference.
Livni denied his accusations and said the prime minister had been working behind the scenes to replace them.
With next year's budget not agreed and growth slowing in the wake of the July-August Gaza war, Lapid accused Netanyahu of putting his political interests before those of Israel.
"The firing of ministers is an act of cowardice and loss of control. We are sad to see that the prime minister has chosen to act without consideration for the national interest and to drag Israel to unnecessary elections," his Yesh Atid party said.
- Xi urges Palestinians, Israel to resume peace talks
- Israel vows harsh response to synagogue attack
- Israel won't cooperate with UN investigation
- Jordan recalls envoy to Israel over Jerusalem 'violations'
- Israel says rocket fired from Gaza into Israel
- Israel beefs up security forces in restive East Jerusalem
- Israel warned not to cross 'red lines' by EU
- China calls on Israel to create conditions for peace talks with Palestine
- US jeweler goes after China's love of diamonds
- US Treasury 'Lucky Money' Honors Year of the Goat
- China-US Internet Forum in DC
- World AIDS Day marked around the world
- Chinatown told through photos of peoples' rooms
- Creative products by Palace Museum
- Group wedding before setting sail
- Guangzhou zoo is home to five generations of koalas
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Using the present to preserve the past |
Balloon goes up after idea for an ad fails |
China's faltering steps on family foster care |
PLA targets corruption |
Taiwan chief administrator resigns after defeat in elections |
Winners of expat blogging contest |
Today's Top News
Database to track Chinese fugitives overseas
Foreign firms set for tougher tax scrutiny in China
China's Wanda Group in talks to buy Lions Gate stake
China-US Internet Forum in DC
Sanya resort unveils Tesla charging stations
Using the present to preserve the past
Chinese investors helping build major US road link
Chinatown told through photos of peoples' rooms
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |