Israel’s Knesset voted overwhelmingly to disperse itself on Wednesday, paving the way for new elections which a meeting of factional leaders agreed will be held on 17 March, 2015. The announcements came following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s move Tuesday evening to fire Finance Minister Yair Lapid, the leader of the Yesh Atid faction, as well as Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, leader of Hatnua, with the other Yesh Atid ministers in the government resigning shortly thereafter. “[Lapid and Livni] tried to overthrow me,” Netanyahu said during a speech announcing the moves. “The government was under constant threats and ultimatums. The country cannot be run in the current situation. Elections are not a good thing, but a government that is attacked from inside is seven times as bad.” Read More
