A member of Israel's Knesset says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be in a much stronger position domestically and with regard to foreign policy for calling for early elections in Israel.
Israelis were not scheduled to go to the polls for national elections until October 2013, but Netanyahu has decided to call for new elections, which will likely be held in February. ( See earlier article)
Danny Danon, deputy speaker of the Israeli Knesset and a member of the ruling Likud Party, is currently in the United States promoting his new book, Israel: The Will to Prevail, which is critical of President Barack Obama. In light of the current budget impasse in Israel, he says it is the right time to call for new elections.
"We see the coalition is falling apart," Danon notes. "The prime minister decided Enough with the blackmail. We will go for early elections. And within a few months, we will have a new government led by the Likud Party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."
The Knesset deputy speaker asserts that the new government will be much stronger than the current one when it comes to dealing with things like the budget and Iran.
"At the beginning of the term, you are able to make tough decisions defense-wise, economical-wise, and you cannot do it when you're finishing your term," he explains.
Netanyahu remains popular with voters in Israel, easily outpolling all potential challengers.