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Israel moves towards new election as Netanyahu struggles to form government

WION Web Team
New Delhi Updated: May 27, 2019, 11:27 PM IST
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures in Israel's parliamentary election at the party headquarters in Tel Aviv. Photograph:(Reuters)

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In a preliminary vote, parliament decided to dissolve itself. In order to disperse and set an election date, legislators would still have to hold a final vote, likely to take place on Wednesday, the report added.

Israel is inching towards a new election as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's struggles to form a government after April 9 national ballot.

In a preliminary vote, parliament decided to dissolve itself. In order to disperse and set a new election date, legislators would still have to hold a final vote which is likely to take place on Wednesday, the report added.

The deadline for Netanyahu to form a coalition is Wednesday. 

Watch: Netanyahu could form coalition government

In power for the past decade and facing potential corruption charges, Netanyahu has struggled to seal an agreement with a clutch of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that would ensure him a fifth term.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and is due to argue against the attorney general's intention to indict him on fraud and bribery charges at a pre-trial hearing in October.

Netanyahu's Likud took 35 of the legislature's 120 seats, the same number as its main rival, the centrist Blue and White party, but had the pledged support of a bigger right-wing bloc.

"There are still 48 hours left to reach an agreement and I hope very much the legislation we are presenting now will not be needed and that common sense will prevail," Likud cabinet minister Zeev Elkin told parliament.

(With inputs from Reuters)