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epa03434264 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the opening meeting of the Likud party at the opening of the winter session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, Israel, 15 October 2012. Israel's Knesset convened 15 October to discuss a government-proposed bill to dissolve the parliament and hold early elections on 22 January. Most lawmakers are expected to vote for the bill, which must pass in three readings in parliament where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition has a majority. Netanyahu called for early elections on 09 October, saying he would not bow to unreasonable budget demands by coalition partner. Observers say he also initiated the move because his right-leaning Likud party currently has a strong lead in opinion polls. EPA/ABIR SULTAN