Netanyahu: I won't push for early elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he has no intention of moving up the Knesset elections. "I'm in no hurry," he said at the Likud ministers meeting. The Knesset elections are scheduled to be held on November 2013.

Many in the political system, including Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, said recently that elections are likely to be held in 2012. On Thursday, Rivlin said he will try to achieve consensus on a September vote.

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The Knesset speaker said he believes passing the 2013 budget may encounter some difficulties, hinting it may also divide the Coalition. 

"A 27-seat party will have a hard time passing a budget that fails to reconcile social and economic needs with security needs. Only a 40-seat party can pass such a budget," he told Likud members.

Meanwhile, a Yedioth Ahronoth-Mina Zemach survey showed that the Likud will win 29 Knesset seats regardless of who is elected to lead Kadima. According to the survey, Kadima under Tzipi Livni's leadership will win 15 seats, and 12 seats under Shaul Mofaz's leadership.  

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