Israel is heading into another early election as Benjamin Netanyahu has so far failed to form an uneasy right-wing coalition in his last-ditch attempt.
Even though Netanyahu managed to overcome tough competition from centrists to win his historic fifth term in office last month, it seems that his hardships are far from over.
Netanyahu needs the support of five right-wing forces, ranging from ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism groups to former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu party.
But so far the right-wing opposition forces have proven to be far less likely allies than they seemed to before.
Lieberman’s nationalist party and the ultra-Orthodox groupings particularly butted heads over the major sticking point – a contentious military conscription draft law.
This would require Orthodox Jewish seminary students to serve in the Armed Forces – something they have always resisted.
The ultra-Orthodox Shas Party accused Lieberman of seeking to “obstruct the formation of a next government.” Some members of Netanyahu’s Likud Party appeared to share that opinion as well, according to the Israeli media.
Protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv, rallying against the recently tabled immunity bill that would shield Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from mounting corruption investigations.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point News 2019.
