Israelis will have to vote for record third time in a year

Benjamin Netanyahu has run out of time to form a government. Photo: Reuters

Josef Federman

Israel's parliament yesterday dissolved after failing to meet a midnight deadline for forming a new government, triggering an unprecedented third election in a 12-month period while giving scandal-plagued Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a welcome break as he fights to save his political career.

After months of political deadlock following a September election, lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the first of three votes required to dissolve the parliament and set a March 2 date for elections.