Israel has officially started its new season for the 12th Knesset elections after 100 Members of Knesset (MK), out of 120, voted for early elections, and set January of 2013 as the official date for the new elections.The Knesset held a 3-hour session that included speeches by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, opposition leader, Shaul Mofaz, and approximately 30 MK’s , while opposition leaders insisted on a confidence vote that was toppled by Netanyahu’s coalition partners.
Israeli Ynet News reported that the Knesset opened its winter session, Monday, and a few hours later, the Knesset was disbanded.
Netanyahu, Israeli President, Shimon Peres, and Knesset Speaker, Reuven Rivlin, opened the Knesset session with speeches about different issues, including the Knesset and the so-called Iranian Nuclear threat.
During his speech, Netanyahu said that any person who does not understand “the risk of the Iranian nuclear agenda, is not worthy to lead the country”.
He also stated that has the military power to act against Iran, and against all groups that are supported by Tehran.
The Israeli Prime Minister added that the main focus of his election campaign will be on security issues, and listed what he called his successful social and economic policies, and claimed that his government managed to reduce unemployment, raised minimum wages and implemented an advanced educational system.
His speech was also as seen to be preemptive, as leftist and centrist parties in the country have been criticizing his policies and his government’s disregard to the massive protests that were held last summer demanding effective policies that creates jobns, a better economy and social services.
Netanyahu elected to shed some light on what he described as “restoring security for Israeli citizens”, and conducting a policy that focused on “firm retaliation”, an issue that, according to Netanyahu, led to significantly reducing the number or “rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip”.
During his opening speech, Knesset Speaker, Reuven Rivlin, said that the Israeli Public might be wondering why the Knesset is disbanded at this time, and why the need to call for early elections and to conduct another election campaign that costs taxpayers million shekels.
Rivlin added that the Israeli public went for elections for so many different reasons, including political maneuvers, political considerations, but, according to Rivlin, the upcoming elections are needed to serve democracy, and due to the fact that the current Knesset failed to make vital decisions, topped by the social-economic aspects.
