ISRAELI KNESSET VOTES TO DISSOLVE ITSELF

Knesset, the Israeli parliament, has approved a bill submitted by the opposition, calling for parliamentary election to be held ahead of schedule. The election date is to be specified within a few days by the leaders of the parties represented in the Knesset. In the meantime, the majority of analysts tend to think that the election is most likely to be held in May next year. So, the government headed by Ehud Barak, who has agreed to the idea, gets a several-month-long respite. During this time, it will be able to act without fear of being dismissed by the Kneset where it lost the majority this summer, NTV television channel reports. Mr. Barak has again lashed out on the right-wing bloc Likud and its leader Ariel Sharon who refused to form the government of national unity. Mr. Barak has also reiterated that his government’s aim is to restore peace, but “not at any cost.”