After months of deadlocked talks and the indictment of the prime minister, Israel moved on Wednesday to its third election in 12 months, a first in the history of the Jewish state.
The elections will likely deepen polarisation and fuel deep dissatisfaction with politicians that have been unable to form a government in a year.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, neck and neck with centrist rival Benny Gantz in April and September polls, will this time go to the people with an extra millstone around his neck – an ongoing indictment over a series of corruption charges.
The two men had been discussing forming a unity government but the talks broke down.
Members of Parliament (MPs) had until 11:59pm (2159 GMT) to find a candidate capable of gaining a majority in the parliament, or Knesset but the deadline passed, meaning parliament dissolves and the country returns to the polls in March.
MPs were expected to confirm the exact date and confirmed election procedures and financing in the early hours of Thursday.
Early polls suggest Netanyahu’s Likud party could still be near level with Gantz’s Blue and White.
Even before the new election was confirmed, the two men were trading blame and launching their campaigns.
“They forced new elections upon us,” Netanyahu said in a video published by his Likud party, referring to Gantz’s Blue and White party.
“In order to stop it recurring again there is only one thing to do and that is to win, and to win big time.”
“We will be going into a third election cycle today because of Netanyahu’s attempt to obtain immunity,” Gantz told lawmakers, referring to the premier’s legal troubles. “We must stand in opposition to this.”
The new elections are deeply unpopular among the electorate, with the Manufacturers Association of Israel estimating the three elections could cost the economy a total of 12 billion shekels ($3.4 billion).
A poll published by Israel’s Channel 13 TV found that 41 per cent of people thought Netanyahu was to blame for the impasses, with only five per cent blaming Gantz.