Bad news:
Israelis are voting for the fifth time in less than four years, the latest episode in a paralyzing political deadlock and a referendum on Netanyahu as he plots his return to power.
In the summer, the “change government” — a coalition of ideologically disparate parties united solely by the desire to oust Netanyahu — dissolved after just one year in office, following a cascade of defections by coalition members.
Now Netanyahu is angling to return as prime minister, which could give him more legal leverage in his ongoing corruption trial. He has falsely claimed that the trial is a “witch hunt” orchestrated by the Israeli left.
Amid reports of high turnout, Netanyahu filmed an “emergency broadcast” with his entourage while on his way to an event in the southern city of Ashkelon, warning of a “large arrival of voters in left-wing bastions.”
He answered questions from followers, one of whom complained of voter exhaustion after five rounds of elections.
“We’re at a 60-60 tie right now. Can we afford exhaustion?” Netanyahu said. “If you don’t go vote, then you’ll see exhaustion.”
Lapid, Netanyahu’s centrist opponent who is serving as the caretaker prime minister, visited the grave of his father, Tommy Lapid — a journalist and politician — before voting near his home in Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning.
“These elections are between the future and the past,” Lapid tweeted.
Netanyahu poised for possible return to power, dividing Israel again
Netanyahu and Lapid each will face the daunting challenge of trying to cobble together a 61-seat parliamentary majority in the 120-member Knesset at a time of unprecedented division.
Omer Attias, 23, a law and art history student who lives in Tel Aviv, called the Ben Gvir phenomenon “disturbing.”
Israelis are voting for the fifth time in less than four years, the latest episode in a paralyzing political deadlock and a referendum on Netanyahu as he plots his return to power.
In the summer, the “change government” — a coalition of ideologically disparate parties united solely by the desire to oust Netanyahu — dissolved after just one year in office, following a cascade of defections by coalition members.
Now Netanyahu is angling to return as prime minister, which could give him more legal leverage in his ongoing corruption trial. He has falsely claimed that the trial is a “witch hunt” orchestrated by the Israeli left.
Amid reports of high turnout, Netanyahu filmed an “emergency broadcast” with his entourage while on his way to an event in the southern city of Ashkelon, warning of a “large arrival of voters in left-wing bastions.”
He answered questions from followers, one of whom complained of voter exhaustion after five rounds of elections.
“We’re at a 60-60 tie right now. Can we afford exhaustion?” Netanyahu said. “If you don’t go vote, then you’ll see exhaustion.”
Lapid, Netanyahu’s centrist opponent who is serving as the caretaker prime minister, visited the grave of his father, Tommy Lapid — a journalist and politician — before voting near his home in Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning.
“These elections are between the future and the past,” Lapid tweeted.
Netanyahu poised for possible return to power, dividing Israel again
Netanyahu and Lapid each will face the daunting challenge of trying to cobble together a 61-seat parliamentary majority in the 120-member Knesset at a time of unprecedented division.
Omer Attias, 23, a law and art history student who lives in Tel Aviv, called the Ben Gvir phenomenon “disturbing.”
Loading…
www.washingtonpost.com
