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How Houdini Bibi controlled his own escape — again

The Prime Minister's political maneuvering this week shows how powerful a political force he is

November 22, 2018 10:32
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a Likud party meeting on Monday

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

anshel pfeffer

2 min read

An election in March, eight months early, was a foregone conclusion.

The Knesset was already summing up the laws that could still be passed before breaking up, while party headquarters finalised their campaign staffing and media organisations planned their coverage.

All that was left was for Education Minister Naftali Bennett to announce his resignation and the departure of his Jewish Home MKs from the coalition and, on Wednesday, the Knesset was to dissolve itself and set the date.

But like so many times before, the political establishment failed to account for Benjamin Netanyahu.