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Netanyahu Act to Clear Way for Leadership
Israeli former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acted to lobby for support in his bid for both the leadership of the opposition Likud Party and the prime minister.
Following his announcement of his candidacy for the party leadership and the premiership in the country Sunday night, Netanyahu met with Eli Yishai, chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party.
Yishai promised to support legislation to allow Netanyahu to run for the premiership but is not inclined to vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset (parliament) because that the faction fears it can lose some votes when a new general election is held.
Without Shas's votes, the bill to dissolve the Knesset would not garner the required 61 votes.
Reports here said the Knesset is due to hold a preliminary reading on a bill initiated by Shas to amend the basic law of government barring people who are not serving Knesset members from running for premiership.
As the bill is intended for the moment to bring Netanyahu in the race, it is also called the Netanyahu bill.
Shas's spiritual leader Rabbi Avadia Yosef said on Monday that only if the Netanyahu bill does not work, the party will be considering efforts to bring about early elections for both the premiership and the Knesset.
Netanyahu met Monday with Tommy Lapid, leader of the secular Shinui party which already aired support for the early elections bill over the bid to dissolve the Knesset.
The former prime minister also met political factions to garner support for the early elections bill.
In the meantime, the right-wing Likud has decided to hold its primaries next Monday to elect their new leader in a race against the limited time left before the upcoming elections.
All paid-up members of the party in Israel will be able to participate. If there is a need for a second round, it will be held two days later.
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