Israeli politicians vote to dissolve the Knesset

Israeli politicians have voted to dissolve the Knesset, a preliminary step that will pave the way for early elections two years ahead of schedule.

Israel’s government, which took office in early 2013, has been divided from the beginning over major issues facing the country.

On Tuesday, the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, fired two rebellious cabinet ministers and called for elections, plunging the country into a bitter campaign set to culminate in elections early next year.

Wednesday’s vote in the 120-member Knesset, which passed 84-0 with one legislator abstaining, was an initial step. Further votes are expected next week that will officially dissolve Israel’s parliament and usher in new polls. If the votes pass as expected, the current parliament will have served for one of the shortest periods in the country’s history.

Yuli Edelstein, the speaker of Israel’s parliament, said party representatives had agreed on 17 March as the date for the early elections. In a procedural step, the date must still be approved by each party.

“The coming elections are about one question: who will lead the government amid the huge challenges that Israel faces?” Netanyahu told a meeting of his Likud party. “The Likud is the only party that should be considered.”

The leader of the opposition, Isaac Herzog, said his center-left Labor party would “do everything to bring change and hope to Israel”.