Israel to hold snap election on March 17: Parliament spokesman

JERUSALEM - Agence France-Presse

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a press conference in Jerusalem, Dec. 2. AP Photo

Israel is to hold a snap election on March 17, the parliament's spokesman said Dec. 3, following a crisis within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fractious coalition government.

"After consultations between different parties, it has been decided to hold elections on March 17," Eran Sidis told AFP, adding that the procedure to adopt a law to dissolve parliament would begin on Dec. 3.

Netanyahu called for early elections on Dec. 2 after firing two ministers in his mostly rightwing coalition, accusing them of "acting against the government from within" and hatching a plot to overthrow him.

It would be Israel's second general election in just over two years and with polls showing Netanyahu's Likud party likely to make gains, another rightwing government is expected to emerge under his leadership.