Analyst: new Israeli elections 'bad news for stability'

(21 Jun 2022) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS   Jerusalem - 21 June 2022 1. Setup of Yohanan Plesner (left), Israeli political analyst and head of the Israel Democracy Institute 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Yohanan Plesner, Israeli political analyst and head of the Israel Democracy Institute: "Israel is about to experience a fifth election campaign within four years. This is bad news for stability. This is bad news for Israel's ability to manage the ongoing affairs of state, it's a reflection of the weaknesses of our electoral system that needs to be fixed in order to restore stability and ensure decisive outcome of election campaigns." 3. Israel Democracy Institute logo 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Yohanan Plesner, Israeli political analyst and head of the Israel Democracy Institute: "Mr. (Yair) Lapid is expected to enter the prime minister's office and to become a fully fledged prime minister with all the authorities. At the same time, an interim government is more limited, both by norm and by law, in terms of the kind of legislation and decisions that it usually takes. " 5. Plesner 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Yohanan Plesner, Israeli political analyst and head of the Israel Democracy Institute: "Mr. (Benjamin) Netanyahu today is quite strong in the polls, but in any of the polls he never reach(es) the 61 seats out of 120 that are necessary for him and his allies to return back to power. So I would say at this point it's a 50/50." 7. Wide of Plesner 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Yohanan Plesner, Israeli political analyst and head of the Israel Democracy Institute: "The president of the United States is coming to meet with the Israeli leader, the relationship is between the states and not between people. So the visit is not going to be impacted in any way. At the same time, a visit of a US president is always good news for an incumbent, in this case Mr. Lapid, that will receive President Biden, is expected to benefit from the visit." 9. Plesner walking out of shot STORYLINE: As Israel prepares for its fifth election in three years, a political analyst says the collapse of another government is "bad news for stability" in the country. Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute, said the turmoil was a reflection of the "weaknesses" within the Israeli electoral system. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett formed his government a year ago with the aim of halting the never-ending cycle of elections. But the fragile coalition government, which includes parties from across the political spectrum, lost its majority earlier this year and has faced rebellions by different lawmakers in recent weeks. Bennett announced his plan to disband the administration during a televised news conference on Monday. The move sets the stage for the possible return to power of former leader Benjamin Netanyahu or another period of prolonged political gridlock. Under their coalition deal, Yair Lapid, who heads the large centrist party Yesh Atid, now becomes the interim prime minister until the election, in which he is expected to be the main rival to Netanyahu. Netanyahu is currently on trial for corruption but has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the charges as a witch hunt by his political opponents. He was ousted by the eight-party alliance after four inconclusive elections that were largely seen as referendums on the his fitness to rule. Plesner estimated the odds were "50/50" as to whether Netanyahu returns to office. AP video shot by Moshe Edri =========================================================== Clients are reminded: Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...