Israel could face its fourth election in two years after the ruling coalition failed to reach an agreement on a budget in last-ditch talks.
The coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and Defence Minister Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party has to agree on a budget by midnight on Tuesday evening, otherwise parliament will automatically dissolve.
A total of 49 of the 120 lawmakers voted against a bill to delay the budget agreement deadline by a week – 47 voted in favour, while the rest either abstained or were absent.
Without an agreement, a new election will take place on March 23.
The coalition between former rivals Netanyahu and Gantz faced issues from the start, but tensions have recently intensified.
Read the article in The West Australian (AAP).