Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing for early elections, most likely in late 2015, two years before his government is due to complete its full term.
Mr Netanyahu's preparations are based on the assumption that the current coalition will fall apart in the coming months as demands by centre-left parties Yesh Atid and Hatnuah for new peace talks come up against vigorous opposition from the other parties in government.
Even if the coalition survives another 12 months, Mr Netanyahu is loath to pass another budget with his current partners, whom he believes are incapable of fiscal discipline.
Immediately after Succot, at the Likud convention, Mr Netanyahu is planning to announce early leadership primaries - which he fully expects to win - so he can focus on the election campaign.
He will also ask the convention to change the party rules so that the leader can nominate his own candidates to the Likud Knesset list. Mr Netanyahu is concerned that, with the resignation of interior minister Gideon Saar last month, Likud lacks relatively young and attractive candidates.
Assumption is that the coalition will fall apart in near future
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