Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday morning, 15 Iyar 5772 announced that general elections for a new prime minister and Knesset will be held on 17 Elul 5772, corresponding to September 4, 2012.

The Knesset will now have to vote on a bill to dissolve itself which will mark the end of the current summer session.

During a press conference following the prime minister’s announcement, opposition leader MK Shaul Mofaz said “it is clear to every child in Israel that the emperor has no clothes”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)