Agencies/Jerusalem

A centre-left coalition in Israel could oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud from power in a snap election scheduled for March, a poll said yesterday.
Previous surveys predicted a fourth term in office for Netanyahu and gains for his right-wing Likud, which could usher in an even more hardline government than the premier’s outgoing right-leaning coalition.
The new poll by parliament TV, published by the Maariv newspaper, said an alliance of the Labour party with the centrist HaTnuah party of former justice minister Tzipi Livni could gain 23 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Likud is projected to win 21.
Another poll by news website Globes put the figure at 24 for Labour-HaTnuah and 23 for Likud.
Local media have reported discussions on a possible grouping between Livni and Labour leader Isaac Herzog, as well as centre-right Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid.
Netanyahu fired Livni and Lapid from their respective posts as justice and finance minister last week before calling for an early election, which parliament on Monday set for March 17.
Commentators say the centre and left parties would have to join forces to defeat Likud, which could also ally itself with far-right, Jewish nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties.
A bill passed in March raising the number of votes parties need to gain representation in parliament is likely to deprive Livni of her seat, according to poll figures.
Labour would win 17 votes if it stood alone.
As he opened his campaign for a fourth term, Netanyahu stepped away from his security base to make a pitch for the large number of Israelis who are more worried about the high cost of living.
At an economic conference in Tel Aviv on Monday, he promised to cut the value added tax imposed on basic foods such as milk, bread, cheese and eggs to zero from 18%.
It was a bold move to head off the threat from more centrist candidates such as Lapid who are expected to make the cost of living a central plank of their campaigns.
“This is a benefit for millions of citizens a year,” said Netanyahu, saying it would cost 2bn shekels ($500mn), 1bn less than a plan Lapid had to cut the VAT on housing for first-time buyers.
“The weaker the family, the more members in a family, the greater the savings will be,” he said, casting the promise as attractive to the ultra-Orthodox community, who tend to have large families and could swing the election this time.