Seven months after it was formed, the Likud-Blue and White unity government missed the deadline to pass a state budget and dissolved itself as of midnight Tuesday, meaning that Israel will be holding a fourth general election in a space of under two years.
On Monday evening, a last-ditch attempt to salvage the 23rd Knesset by passing a law to push back the deadline for a budget failed. Four members of the coalition – Assaf Zamir, Miki Haimovitch, and Ram Shefa from Blue and White and MK Michal Shir from the Likud – voted against the bill, causing it to fall in a vote of 49:47.
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On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu excoriated Alternate Prime Minister and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz and Justice Minister Avi Nissankoren for bringing the government to an end.
"Gantz capitulated and let Avi Nissankoren run the show," Netanyahu said, referring to Blue and White's efforts to stop Netanyahu's various appointments and refusal to reform the Justice Ministry in a way that would have saved the 2019 unity deal between Likud and Blue and White.
"It's no secret, I never wanted an election. I voted time after time against an election, and unfortunately, Gantz went back on our agreement and dragged Israel into an election because of internal power struggles," Netanyahu said
As of Wednesday morning, the timeline for the 2021 elections was as follows: Feb. 3 or 4 will be the deadline for parties to submit their lists for the 24th Knesset. Parties and political officials will have until Feb. 11 to submit petitions to disqualify parties or individual candidates from the election.
By Feb. 16, election material will be sent to Israeli embassies and consulates abroad to allow government representatives to vote. On Feb. 21, the Central Elections Committee is scheduled to approve the party lists, and the fateful day itself is scheduled for March 23, 2021, shortly before Passover.
On March 31, the final election results are scheduled to be published.
The 24th Knesset is scheduled to hold its opening session on April 6, 2021.
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