Netanyahu considers canceling general elections set for September

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering the cancelation of the general elections to the parliament (the Knesset), which are set for September 17, as the Likud party, headed by Netanyahu, said Tuesday.

The previous Israeli elections were held on April 9, but Netanyahu failed to form a coalition of at least 61 Knesset members out of 120, with the Likud right-wing party winning 35 seats.

The right-wing parties gained a total of 65 seats in the elections, but former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu party, refused to join the coalition, which led to a vote on the dissolution of the Knesset and new elections.

Because of the high cost of the additional elections, estimated at 2 billion new shekels (about 557 million U.S. dollars), and after requests by many parliament members, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein initiated the cancellation of the additional elections.

To prevent the additional elections, a majority of 80 Knesset members are required to vote for repealing the law that dissolved the Knesset on May 30.

Such a move could only be possible if Netanyahu will be able to reach an agreement with other parties to form a coalition. Because of the crisis with Lieberman, the prime minister will probably have to reach an agreement with the center-left party, "Blue and White," which also won 35 seats.

This mission is not expected to be simple, as Blue and White announced in the past that it would refuse to join a government led by Netanyahu, due to the charges against him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.