On 12 December, the Knesset decided that new elections would be organized on 2 March 2020. New elections will take place as a result of the failure of both candidates Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz to form a new government which needed a majority of 61 seats at least. None of the candidates was able to secure enough support to do so neither agreed on the solution suggested by President Reuven Rivlin of forming a national unity government between Likud and Blue and White. On 12 December, the Supreme Court announced that, following a petition received from the Movement for Quality Government in Israel (MQG), Netanyahu has to resign from all ministerial positions he holds (including the ministries of agriculture, diaspora, health and welfare), but will remain Prime Minister. According to Israeli law, ministers facing criminal charges have to resign but there is not such stipulation for the Prime Minister. However, criticized inside his own party, Netanyahu will face a leadership primary election on 26 December. Yair Lapid, a senior member of Blue and White, has criticized the current PM as the reason for new elections: “there are only three reasons for this election – bribery, fraud and breach of trust”. On the other side, Netanyhau accused Gantz of “conspiring with Arab leaders and forcing new elections”.