Category: Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu Fails in Latest Attempt to Form Israeli Government

JERUSALEM—Benjamin Netanyahu’s deadline for forming a new Israeli government expired early on Wednesday, with the country’s longest-serving prime minister having failed to break more than two years of political deadlock. There was also no guarantee that, after the conservative incumbent was unable to assemble a new coalition, parties outside his caretaker government could bridge their…


Israeli President Picks Netanyahu to Try to Form Government

JERUSALEM—Israel’s president handed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the difficult task on Tuesday of trying to form a government from the country’s splintered parliament, giving the embattled leader a chance to prolong his lengthy term in office while he stands trial on corruption charges. In his announcement, President Reuven Rivlin acknowledged that no party leader had…


Israel’s Netanyahu in Court as Parties Weigh in on His Fate

JERUSALEM—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial resumed Monday, with a key witness painting a picture of an image-obsessed Israeli leader forcing a prominent news site to flatter his family and smear his opponents. The testimony came as Netanyahu’s chances of securing another term in office following last month’s parliamentary elections appeared to be dwindling in…


Israel Vote Deadlock: Netanyahu Appears Short of Majority

JERUSALEM—Uncertainty hovered over the outcome of Israel’s parliamentary election Wednesday, with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and sworn political rivals determined to depose him apparently lacking a clear path to a governing coalition. Deadlock in the 120-seat parliament was a real possibility a day after the election, which had been dominated by Netanyahu’s polarizing leadership….


Israel Votes: Netanyahu’s Fate Hangs on Tuesday’s Elections

JERUSALEM—Israelis began voting on Tuesday in the country’s fourth parliamentary election in two years—a highly charged referendum on the divisive rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Opinion polls forecast a tight race between those who support Israel’s longest-serving premier and those who want “anyone but Bibi,” as he is widely known. “Vote, vote, vote, vote,…


The Right Wing Will Win Israel’s Election Tuesday

Commentary On Tuesday, the many political parties in Israel’s parliament, and a few new ones, will seek election, with the contest broadly between those parties for and those against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remaining in power. Although the election, Israel’s fourth in two years, is once again too close to call—many polls predict another deadlock—one…


Israeli PM Pleads Not Guilty as Corruption Trial Resumes

JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded not guilty on Monday as his trial on corruption charges resumed in a Jerusalem courtroom just weeks before national elections in which he hopes to extend his 12-year rule. Netanyahu was indicted last year for fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in three separate cases. In recent months,…


Israeli Government Dissolves, Triggers Snap Election

Israel is heading to its fourth election in two years after its parliament failed to pass a new budget by the midnight deadline, the Israeli Knesset spokesman’s office confirmed early Wednesday. The failure to approve a budget by deadline brings about the automatic dissolution of the country’s current government, and automatically triggers a snap, which…