Knesset Dispersed, Israel Going to New Elections Sept. 17

In a vote of 74 to 45, the 21st Knesset voted to dissolve itself after just 2 months from the last election.

This week the last of the new MKs carried their virgin speeches at the plenum. Some of them may never return.

Up to the last minute, Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman refused any of the compromise offers from PM Netanyahu and the Chareidi parties, and refused to join the coalition, leaving no other option than to go to elections.

The new elections will be held on September 17 which would also be the 17th of Elul.

A very bitter Netanyahu held an impromptu press conference where he accused Liberman of dealing in bad faith from the start, reminding Israelis that it was Liberman who caused the last coalition government to crumble.

Likud will focus a good portion of its upcoming campaign on reaching out to Liberman's voters -- accusing Liberman of having joined the left, and running the campaign in Russian.

Bozhe moi...

Watch Netanyahu voting for dissolving the Knesset (disregard the test screen):

Whatever Liberman's intentions, he managed to seriously wound Prime Minister Netanyahu, who will be headed to his October 2 pre-indictment hearing without the benefit of a revised immunity law and without the override clause, which could cost him dearly.

Incidentally, by the time the next elections roll in, Bibi will have served more time as Israel's PM than anyone else, including David Ben Gurion.