Bibi’s bust-up
The coalition breaks up halfway through its term. But Binyamin Netanyahu is still the man to beat
IT WAS another gamble by Israel’s prime minister. After weeks of political infighting, Binyamin Netanyahu called for fresh elections “as soon as possible”, signalling the end of his government less than halfway through its four-year term. Just before his press conference on December 2nd, he fired his justice and finance ministers, Tzipi Livni and Yair Lapid. They were disloyal, he said, and were plotting a “putsch” against him. “I am taking a risk in order to improve the governance,” he declared.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Bibi’s bust-up”
Discover more
Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo in an embarrassing rout for Bashar al-Assad
The Syrian dictator will not be able to count on help from Russia and Iran, his closest allies
America under Joe Biden plays the pragmatist in Africa
Donald Trump is likely to follow suit
New cures for Africa’s most gruesome diseases
Sleeping sickness, riverblindness and more could be tackled
Nigeria seeks to restore pride in its artefacts, ancient and modern
A new museum in Benin City will showcase “a cauldron of creativity”
The Lebanese-American businessman in Donald Trump’s inner circle
Can Massad Boulos influence the incoming administration in the region?
Israel and Hizbullah strike a fragile deal to end their war
Joe Biden makes a last push to bring peace to the Middle East