Early elections in Israel: What you need to know

When Netanyahu initially spoke out against early elections last month, he noted an unspecified sensitive security situation facing the country.

It was an apparent reference to a military operation to destroy Hezbollah tunnels from Lebanon that was announced earlier this month.

There was speculation in November that Netanyahu wanted to delay calling new elections until anger over the Gaza ceasefire calmed.

Since Monday’s election announcement, the premier has faced questions over why now is a good time for elections if last month was not. He says the tunnel operation is now nearly complete.

What about Trump’s peace plan?

US President Donald Trump’s “ultimate deal” for Israeli-Palestinian peace, the details of which are unknown to the public, was supposed to be unveiled by the end of the year, but will probably be delayed due to the elections.

Netanyahu, who has been backed strongly by Trump and his administration, said he was “looking forward” to working with the peace plan.

Palestinian leaders, who severed ties with Trump’s administration after his decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and declare the city Israel’s capital, have already said they will have nothing to do with the peace plan.

A senior White House official said on Monday that the United States was “evaluating the timing of the release of the peace plan” in the wake of the newly called elections.