Israel general election March 17 next year

Israel will hold its general election March 17 next year, it was announced after a meeting of the heads of the Knesset factions, media reported.

The members will vote on a preliminary reading of a bill Wednesday to dissolve the current Knesset administration, which is expected to pass easily, The Jerusalem Post reported.

A final reading of the bill could pass as early as next Monday.

The moves follow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision Tuesday to fire Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid and Hatnua party chairperson Tzipi Livni.

The elections have to take place 90 to 150 days from the point when the government is dissolved.

Netanyahu, opposition leader Isaac Herzog and other party leaders have indicated they wanted the elections as soon as possible.

Netanyahu accused Lapid and Livni Tuesday of non-stop efforts to undermine him and his government.

"(Lapid and Livni) tried to overthrow me. The government was under constant threats and ultimatums. The country cannot be run in the current situation. Elections are not a good thing, but a government that is attacked from inside is seven times as bad," he said.

Netanyahu complained that the makeup of his coalition had been forced on him, and said that after the next elections, he wanted to form a government that would be wide enough so that no party could topple it.