Scarcely seven weeks after winning his fifth mandate, Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself seeking re-election after he failed to meet a deadline to form a coalition government. New Israeli elections are set for September 17th.
Netanyahu was unable to form a coalition government because Avigdor Lieberman, who at various times has served under Bibi as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense, objects to exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from compulsory military service. This put Bibi in a no win situation because he required support from small ultra-Orthodox parties to form his coalition.
What puzzles me is why One Israel under the leadership of Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid weren't given an opportunity to form a government? Maybe it's just the Canadian in me. Well, perhaps they will be given such an opportunity in the fall. Of course, Lieberman is clearly not a man without ambition.
That being said, it will be nearly four months before the vote. It would be a mistake to underestimate Bibi. It is quite possible he could win his sixth mandate and second in less than six months.
Israel is many things. Boring it is not.
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