Israel election news

Here are the latest news and updates on the Israeli election:

Latest Developments:

• The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has been dissolved, and a new election has been called for March 23, 2021.
• The election was triggered after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government following the previous election in March 2020.
• Netanyahu's Likud party and the Blue and White party, led by Benny Gantz, have agreed to a unity government, but the deal has been put on hold due to disagreements over the composition of the government.
• The election is expected to be a closely contested race, with several parties vying for power.

Polls and Projections:

• According to a recent poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, the Likud party is expected to win 30-32 seats in the Knesset, while the Blue and White party is expected to win 25-27 seats.
• Another poll by the Tel Aviv University's Evian Group predicts that the Likud party will win 29-31 seats, while the Blue and White party will win 24-26 seats.
• The polls also show that several smaller parties, including the Yamina party and the New Hope party, are expected to win significant numbers of seats.

Key Issues:

• The economy: The Israeli economy has been struggling in recent years, and the election is expected to focus on issues such as taxation, government spending, and economic growth.
• Security: Israel's security situation is always a major concern, and the election is expected to focus on issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran's nuclear program, and the threat of terrorism.
• Social issues: The election is also expected to focus on social issues such as healthcare, education, and housing.

Candidates:

• Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud): Netanyahu has been the Prime Minister of Israel since 2009 and is seeking to continue in the role.
• Benny Gantz (Blue and White): Gantz is a former military chief and is seeking to become the first non-Netanyahu Prime Minister in over a decade.
• Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid): Lapid is a former Finance Minister and is seeking to become the leader of the opposition.
• Naftali Bennett (Yamina): Bennett is a former Defense Minister and is seeking to become the leader of the right-wing bloc.

International Reaction:

• The international community is closely watching the election, with many countries expressing concerns about the potential impact on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
• The United States has expressed support for Netanyahu, while the European Union has called for a peaceful and democratic election.
• The Arab world is also closely watching the election, with many countries expressing concerns about the potential impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.