JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s left-wing parties said on Monday they would join forces ahead of a March 2 national election to regain dwindling influence in parliament and pose a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu and Gantz failed to form governing coalitions after April and September votes, plunging the country towards an unprecedented third election in less than a year. The new left-wing alliance will be headed by Labour’s Amir Peretz, a former defense minister who called the merger “a partnership of change and hope”. Under leaders like Yitzhak Rabin, Labour was a driving force in Israel’s efforts to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving premier, has asked parliament to protect him from prosecution on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Source: Egypt Independent January 13, 2020 08:48 UTC