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Despite Gaza operation, elections likely to be held as scheduled By Shahar Ilan and Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Gaza, Hamas, Israel News  Knesset legal advisor Nurit Elstein determined Thursday that a two-thirds majority would be needed to postpone elections, and leaders of four major parties dismissed appeals for postponment Eighty Knesset members would have to support a special law delaying the February 10 general elections and detailing the special circumstances surrounding the measure. The law could only allow the elections to be postponed as long as those special circumstances were in place. Attorney Elstein wrote an opinion at the behest of Likud party whip Gideon Saar and Labor MK Shelly Yachimovich. Saar and Yachimovich claimed that the legal situation needed to be clarified in light of public debate on the subject. Advertisement Pension Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan spoke to most party chairs, but his efforts to garner support for delaying the elections fell short. Likud chair Benjamin Netanyahu, Labor chair Ehud Barak, Shas chair Eli Yishai and Yisrael Beiteinu chair Avigdor Lieberman rejected the call for later elections. All of them stressed that such a measure would not be appropriate unless the Gaza hostilities escalate and disrupt daily life. Netanyahu said in interviews that Hamas should not be allowed to intervene in Israel's democratic process. Senior Kadima officials kept their involvement behind the scenes so as not to appear afraid of scheduled elections. Politicians have already accused Kadima of being concerned that Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Labor are gaining in public opinion polls, at Kadima's expense. Elstein relied on Clause 9A of the Basic Law for the Knesset. The clause states that a special law to delay elections at the end of a Knesset term must pass by a majority of 80 Knesset members. She rejected claims that the clause applies only to delaying elections at the end of a regular four-year term and does not apply to mid-term elections. National Infrastructures Minister and Labor MK Benjamin Ben-Eliezer Thursday said, "elections should be held as scheduled. The only time they have been postponed were due to the Yom Kippur War, and those circumstances were very different." Likud MK Michael Eitan also opposed the postponement, saying, "some things are just not done. A month before elections, they cannot be postponed without across the board agreement in parliament." Related articles: Three IDF soldiers killed in fighting in Gaza Strip Report: Obama ready to talk to Hamas after taking office Israel to present complaint to UN over Lebanon rocket fire Czech FM: Israel needs Gaza truce to curry European favor Iran bans volunteer suicide bombers from traveling to Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us   A "gesture of dignity" Israeli envoy to Venezuela departs after being expelled by Chavez over Gaza op A voodoo initiative Voodoo priests in Benin pray for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Read & React UN Security Council calls for immediate Gaza truce Responses: 170 UN: IDF officers admit Gaza school shelling was by mistake Responses: 132 Akiva Eldar: Israeli rejection of Gaza deal may topple Abbas Responses: 71 Gideon Levy: Those who justify Gaza war justify all of its crimes Responses: 237 Bernard Avishai, Sam Bahour: Israel playing into Hamas' hands Responses: 66 More Headlines 00:33 Meshal: No Gaza truce until IDF ends offensive, opens border crossings 23:43 IDF: Hamas fighters beginning to desert; army steps up Gaza offensive 23:45 Gaza rocket strikes Ashkelon, injuring 14 Israelis 23:52 Abbas: Israel responsible for 'waterfall of blood' if it rejects Gaza truce 11:13 Israel rejects UN truce resolution, says Gaza operation to continue 23:28 ANALYSIS / Israel should have embraced the UN's Gaza truce proposal 23:29 Pentagon denies arms shipment to Israel linked to Gaza fighting 22:54 Israelis protest Gaza offensive: Our Zionism does not make us crave blood and war 23:07 Protesters turn violent, clash with police at anti-Israel rallies in Europe 22:58 Israel and Hamas are both paying a steep price in Gaza 01:17 IDF uses live ammunition to break up West Bank demonstrations 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 11:00 EU said readying plan to restore Fatah-led PA rule over Gaza crossings 20:33 7 suspects arrested in Lebanon over rocket fire into northern Israel 22:34 Hamas claims it hit IAF base 27km from Tel Aviv 21:53 Human Rights Watch: Israel using white phosphorus munitions in Gaza 17:19 Yemen begins trial of 3 men accused of spying for Israel 20:54 Voodoo priests in Benin pray for Israeli-Palestinian peace 23:51 Israeli envoy to Venezuela departs after being expelled by Chavez over Gaza op 11:40 Incoming secretary of state Clinton to name Dennis Ross as top adviser on Mideast, Iran 16:02 IDF denies shooting of UN truck in Gaza that killed relief worker 11:18 WATCH: U.S. House passes landslide vote backing Israel in fight against Hamas 21:16 ANALYSIS / Israeli rejection of Gaza deal may topple Abbas 11:20 Obama aide denies report he will launch low-level contact with Hamas 12:23 Text of UN Security Council resolution for Gaza cease-fire 23:38 Syria protests Israel's gift of Golan wine to UN staff Previous Editions Select Day 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec

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