Israeli lawmakers have voted to dissolve parliament and set the country on the path to a second election within months after right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to put together a ruling coalition before a midnight deadline.
In April Mr Netanyahu appeared set for a fifth term after his Likud Party won 35 of the Knesset's 120 seats, even though he faces possible indictment in three corruption cases.
But despite weeks of negotiations he failed to overcome divisions between secular and religious allies and in the early hours of Thursday, parliament voted by 74-45 to dissolve itself.
Ex-defence minister Avigdor Lieberman prevented an agreement by refusing to abandon a key demand, with his nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party's five seats just enough to block Mr Netanyahu's efforts.
As a result, Mr Netanyahu pushed for new elections to prevent his nightmare scenario of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin selecting another parliament member to try to form a government.
He voted in favour of holding new elections and was expected to speak shortly. Another election could be held in September.
