JERUSALEM — Israeli media reports early today indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached an agreement with the Kadima opposition party for a unity government, canceling an early election.

There was no immediate comment from official sources on the decision.

The reports came as Israel’s parliament held debates long into the night over whether to disperse ahead of early elections called for the fall. Knesset spokesman Yotam Yakir said no final vote was taken and parliament is not dispersing.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli government proposed that the election be moved up to Sept. 4.

The election had originally been set for 2013.

According to the media reports, Netanyahu forged an agreement with opposition leader Shaul Mofaz of Kadima a short while before parliament was set to vote to disperse.

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The reports said Kadima agreed to join Netanyahu’s government on condition it supports a proposal about a military deferment for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The issue was one of the main reasons Netanyahu decided to bring forward the election date. The deal stipulates that Mofaz will serve as deputy prime minister and that two other key party’s Yisrael Beitenu and Shas had agreed to the move, according to reports.

The current government is the most stable Israel has had in years. But disagreements on a variety of domestic issues such as drafting the ultra-Orthodox into the military and tearing down illegal structures in West Bank settlements have led Netanyahu to move up elections by more than a year.

Recent polls have suggested Netanyahu’s Likud Party would win at least one-quarter of parliament’s 120 seats to become the legislature’s largest faction — putting him in a comfortable position to form a majority coalition.

 


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