The Knesset finally dissolves itself ahead of March 17 ballot

On the Israeli parliament’s last day of business before the March 17 general election, the Netanyahu government rushed through a series of laws opposed by the ministers he sacked last week. Instead of zero VAT on first apartments, proposed by ex-finance minister Yair Lapid, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu promised a law to eliminate VAT on price-controlled basic foods and double the grants to discharged soldiers.  He also called again for a regional peace process with the Arab League “to separate from the Palestinians.” Electioneering is already in full spate.