BICOM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday gave the first indication that a general election could be held in Israel earlier than scheduled.

The next general election must take place in Israel before October 2013. However, should the 2013 budget fail to pass a vote in the Knesset, an election will be triggered. Lately there has been speculation of fraught behind the scenes negotiations between Netanyahu and coalition partners Shas and Yisrael Beitenu, in an attempt to ensure the smooth passage of the budget.

Yesterday, Netanyahu, through Likud legal adviser Avi Halevy, gave the first public hint that the budget could prove to be a stumbling block within the coalition. Halevy said, ‘there is a possibility’ that elections will take place ‘if no agreement is reached on the 2013 state budget that must pass by the end of the year’.

Netanyahu’s statement formed part of a response to an unrelated petition by Likud’s Minister-Without-Portfolio Michael Eitan, who is seeking to challenge Netanyahu for chairmanship of the Likud convention. Eitan claims that Netanyahu has broken internal party rules by failing to convene a convention in a timely fashion.