Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, April 19, 2021
From the Liveblog of
Monday, April 19, 2021
Deri calls for direct PM vote to extract Israel from political purgatory
Shas leader Aryeh Deri urges politicians to back a plan to call a special election for prime minister, in an effort to resolve Israel’s two-year political deadlock.
“The simple proposal is aimed at saving Israel from this crisis,” he says, after lawmakers from his party officially submit the bill.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri during a meeting in Jerusalem, March 4, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
“If after the direct vote, there aren’t 61… who rally around one person, we will go to fifth elections,” he says.
“We must let the public choose,” adds Deri.
