The election for 21st Knesset was held in spring of 2019 but a coalition government was not formed, leading to the September 2019 election for 22nd Knesset. Efforts are still underway to form a coalition government, but most of the players are far from optimistic, and some are already preparing for a third national election within a one-year period, the election for 23rd Knesset, likely to take place in March 2020 if the need arises.

Without a state budget, the nation is facing growing problems, with many government ministries feeling the crunch as the national government continues to limp along as many urgent matters are being ignored.

The nation’s hospitals report internal wards are operating at over 100% capacity, and this is before winter and the flu season. Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman explains his ministry is in desperate need of NIS 40 million if there is to be any chance of dealing with expected issues this winter, citing the nation’s healthcare system suffers from a chronic shortage of hospital beds.

Litzman has words of praise for the healthcare workers, citing the nation’s healthcare system is among the best in the world, but without a normal government operations many ministries are hurting, and the Health Ministry is among them, warming funding must be forthcoming if the system is going to be able to face the challenges expected in the coming months.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)