Israel’s political system will know whether or not it’s heading for early elections following the vote on a replacement to the so-called Tal Law on May 9, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Saturday, adding that his Yisrael Beiteinu party has exhausted its obligations to the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The FM’s comments, made during an interview to Channel 2’s “Meet the Press,” came hours after newly anointed Opposition Leader and Kadima chairperson Shaul Mofaz urged Netanyahu to move up the general elections to October of this year.

Writing on his official Facebook page, Mofaz said that the “days of Netanyahu’s government are numbered. The next elections will decide the face, image, and future of the State of Israel.”

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“Israel’s citizens will be faced with a choice between more obtuseness, apathy, and extremism from this government and national interests and hope,” Mofaz said, adding: “I call for the general elections to be held at the earliest possible opportunity, immediately following the holidays, on Tuesday, October 16.”

The Kadima leader urged Netanyahu to “begin explicit moves in order to reach an agreed-upon date for general elections.”

For more, go to Haaretz.com

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount