Likud and Blue and White took a break from their ongoing fight over who is at fault for a potential third election on Monday and agreed on when the election should take place: Monday, March 2. The two parties will begin on Monday to advance legislation required to set the election date. “Blue and White will make every effort until the last moment to avoid unnecessary elections,” faction chairman Avi Nissenkorn said. “We promised the public that if Netanyahu prevents the formation of a unity government and we are forced to disperse the Knesset, we will ensure that the election is as short as possible. I am glad the Likud and other factions agreed.” If no government is formed by Wednesday night at midnight, an election would be automatically set for March 10, which is Purim, unless a law is passed in advance to set a different date. If the election is set for March 2, however, it will be 81 days from Thursday – a month less than the last one, which took place on September 17. The Likud wanted the election to take place as late as possible and Blue and White as soon as possible. The two parties agreed on Saturday night to hold the race on Tuesday March 3. But then it was discovered that March 3 is the annual memorial day for soldiers whose burial place remains unknown. The Yad Lebanim organization protested the date to the Central Elections Committee, as did Likud ministers Ophir Akunis and Miri Regev. The Likud then sought to hold the race on March 24 and Blue and White on February 25. In a meeting of Likud and Blue and White representatives, Likud minister Yariv Levin and Blue and White faction chairman Avi Nissenkorn agreed to break with tradition and hold the election on a Monday instead of a Tuesday. The Likud called for March 16 and Blue and White March 2. The last time an Israeli election was not held on a Tuesday was 1996, when it was held on Wednesday. The last time Israelis went to the polls on a Monday was in 1984. “We will not allow the country to be dragged into a long election campaign at the expense of the public,” Blue and White said in a statement. “In the event that Netanyahu drags the State of Israel into another round of costly and unnecessary elections, we will act to ensure that elections are held at the earliest possible date.” Levin said it bothered him that instead of forming a government, he was meeting with Blue and White to set a date for what he termed “a completely unnecessary election.” He said what really mattered was to make another last-ditch effort to prevent the race. The Central Elections Committee will have a new chairman, replacing Supreme Court Judge Hanan Melczer, the Supreme Court announced on Sunday evening. The new chairman will be Supreme Court judge Neal Hendel. Hendel was born in the US and attended the Yeshivah of Flatbush and New York University. Source
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