Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called a snap general election for early April – despite apparently having staved off previous threats to the stability of his coalition.

In this breaking news edition of Haaretz Weekly, editor-in-chief Aluf Benn speculates on the logic behind the prime minister's timing and says that, by holding an election seven months earlier than expected, Netanyahu has potentially deflected two of the main threats to him winning a fifth term as prime minister: possible criminal charges for corruption, bribery and breach of trust – and an American peace plan which could be impossible for his supporters to swallow.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&nbsp;has called a&nbsp;snap general election&nbsp;for early April &ndash; despite apparently having staved off previous threats to the stability of his coalition.
In this breaking news edition of Haaretz Weekly, editor-in-chief&nbsp;Aluf Benn&nbsp;speculates on the logic behind the prime minister's timing and says that, by holding an election seven months earlier than expected, Netanyahu has potentially deflected two of the main threats to him winning a fifth term as prime minister: possible&nbsp;criminal charges for corruption, bribery and breach of trust&nbsp;&ndash; and&nbsp;an American peace plan&nbsp;which could be impossible for his supporters to swallow.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Your audio guide to Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Haaretz Podcast

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.