Israel's parliament decides to dissolve itself
Israel’s parliament decided in a preliminary vote today to dissolve itself, but three more votes are required to clear the way for early elections.
The legislature voted 84-10, with eight abstention, even as President Moshe Katsav weighed a request by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to dissolve parliament by presidential decree.
Katsav has said he would decide quickly whether to let parliament set a date for early elections, or pre-empt the legislators.
In either case, elections are widely expected to be held in March, eight months ahead of schedule.
