Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik on Thursday informed Knesset House Committee Chairman MK David Tal that general elections for the 18th Knesset will take place on February 10, 2008.

She explained all the factions have consented and the date is now being locked in.

Until the next election, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will remain the nation’s leader after newly-elected Kadima leader Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni returned the mandate to President Shimon Peres — failing to assemble a national coalition government.

The final day of work for the current 17th Knesset will be on November 10th.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)