Israel is on the verge of fresh political turmoil after Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White faction in the government, said he was ready to back an opposition move to dissolve the Knesset on Wednesday evening. 

If the resolution to break up the Parliament, tabled by the Yesh Atid party, is successful, it could pave the way for a new election in March, the fourth in less than two years. 

Mr Gantz has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying the state budget. 

“Table the budget for the government, make sure to pass it and ensure unity,” Israeli media quoted him as saying. 

But Mr Netanyahu urged Mr Gantz to vote “against elections and for unity… The state of Israel does not need elections now.” 

Even if the resolution to dismantle the Knesset were to go through, a number of other parliamentary votes would still have to take place before elections were called. 

If a budget is not passed by December 23, then the Knesset would automatically break up. 

Under the coalition deal brokered after the last election this April, Mr Gantz, who is currently Deputy Prme Minister, would be due to succeed Mr Netanyahu as Prime Minister by the end of November next year. 

Meanwhile, Israel’s coronavirus czar Dr Nachman Ash said this week that the country was in “a state of emergency” as infections rose to the highest in six weeks.  

Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kirsh has indicated the country could face a night curfew when Chanukah begins on Thursday night next week.