“I am not interested in a year and a half long election campaign that would damage the country. I would rather have a four-month swift election campaign that would bring political system to stability quickly,” Mr Netanyahu told fellow Likud party members during his opening address at their annual conference in Tel Aviv.
Mr Netanyahu praised leaders of rival parties, whom he conceded had “much to offer” but swiftly dismissed them as viable candidates to replace him as prime minister.
“The state of Israel cannot afford to have a prime minister without the economic, diplomatic and security experience necessary [for the job],” he said.
Mr Netanyahu's announcement had long been predicted by Israeli media and government officials. » | Phoebe Greenwood in Tel Aviv | Sunday, May 06, 2012
