Israel faces possible 2nd poll amid coalition crisis

JERUSALEM: Israel's parliament on Monday passed a preliminary motion to dissolve itself. The move further pushed the country toward an unprecedented political impasse, less than two months after elections seemed to promise PM Benjamin Netanyahu a new mandate.
If the bill receives final passage in a vote scheduled on Wednesday, Israel would be forced to hold new elections.
Netanyahu appeared to have a clear path to victory, and a fourth consecutive term, after the April 9 polls. His Likud party emerged tied as the largest party in the 120-seat parliament, and with his traditional allies, he appeared to control a solid 65-55 majority.
But he has struggled to form a government ahead of a looming deadline to do so. His prospective coalition has been thrown into crisis in recent days by former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Lieberman has insisted on passing a new law mandating that young ultra-Orthodox men be drafted into the military, like other Jewish males. Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox allies demand that the draft exemptions remain in place.
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References

1. ^{^} Israel's parliament (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
2. ^{^} Benjamin Netanyahu (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
3. ^{^} Likud (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

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