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Israel Heads Toward Unprecedented 3rd Election in 12 Months

Associated Press

   JERUSALEM - Israeli kingmaker politician Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday
   refused to endorse a candidate for prime minister, blaming both the
   contenders engaged in a tense standoff that has paralyzed Israeli
   politics and pushing the country toward a likely third election in less
   than a year.

   Lieberman's comments came ahead of a midnight deadline for Prime
   Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rival, Benny Gantz, to form a coalition.
   Without Lieberman, Gantz appears unable to secure the required majority
   in parliament to be prime minister.

   If Israel is forced into a third election, it would be entering
   uncharted waters, with opinion polls already predicting a very similar
   deadlock. But a new campaign could benefit the embattled Netanyahu, who
   is expected to be indicted on corruption charges in the coming weeks.
   Netanyahu would be best-positioned to fight any charges from the prime
   minister's office.

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