Israel to hold early elections as Knesset is dissolved

Financial Times informs that Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile governing coalition has agreed to dissolve the Israeli parliament and called early elections that will be seen as a referendum on the veteran prime minister. The elections would likely to take place on April 9.

According to The Telegraph polls show Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party on course to win the most seats in the election, despite recommendations by Israeli police that the prime minister should be charged with corruption. Mr Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and Israeli prosecutors have not yet decided whether to indict him. The elections mean that prosecutors will probably not announce any decision until after the campaign.

The Washington Post writes that elections will be held amid growing concern over the threat posed along Israel’s northern border by Iran and its militia ally Hezbollah, especially after the planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, where they have helped contain Iranian influence.

Prepared by Marina Muradyan