Israel’s cabinet announced on Sunday a January 22 date for a national election, a ballot that opinion polls predict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will win.

The date needs to be approved by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, which convenes on Monday to vote to dissolve itself and move up an election originally scheduled for October 2013.

“The cabinet unanimously approved the proposal to hold Knesset elections on January 22, 2013,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.

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)

Netanyahu called last week for an early election after his governing coalition failed to agree on the 2013 state budget. A new public mandate would strengthen his political standing as Israel confronts the challenge of Iran’s nuclear programme.

A survey published on Thursday in the Maariv newspaper showed Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party winning 29 of parliament’s 120 seats, up from a current 27, putting it in a prime position to form a coalition government.

Likud’s most powerful rivals, centre-left Labour and a new centrist movement headed by a former TV anchor, would trail in the vote with 17 seats each, the poll showed.

The Haaretz newspaper, projecting from a separate poll, said Israel’s next coalition government would likely be headed by Likud and comprise mostly religious or nationalist parties for a combined 68 seats, ahead of today’s 66.

The date needs to be approved by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, which convenes on Monday to vote to dissolve itself and move up an election originally scheduled for October 2013.

“The cabinet unanimously approved the proposal to hold Knesset elections on January 22, 2013,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.

Netanyahu called last week for an early election after his governing coalition failed to agree on the 2013 state budget. A new public mandate would strengthen his political standing as Israel confronts the challenge of Iran’s nuclear programme.

A survey published on Thursday in the Maariv newspaper showed Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party winning 29 of parliament’s 120 seats, up from a current 27, putting it in a prime position to form a coalition government.

Likud’s most powerful rivals, centre-left Labour and a new centrist movement headed by a former TV anchor, would trail in the vote with 17 seats each, the poll showed.

The Haaretz newspaper, projecting from a separate poll, said Israel’s next coalition government would likely be headed by Likud and comprise mostly religious or nationalist parties for a combined 68 seats, ahead of today’s 66.

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