Barak sets dates for elections

JERUSALEM — Israel's parliament voted to hold new elections in six months after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak told a shocked plenum that he would set a date for new elections within the next few days.

"I'm not blind. I see the Knesset wants elections," Barak said. "You want elections. You'll have elections. The date will be set within a few days. We're strong, the state is strong, the people is strong, even stronger than their representatives in parliament."

The 120-member Knesset voted on five election bills Tuesday, including a bill that called for the dissolution of the Knesset and new elections. The Knesset passed the bill 66 to 23 on the first reading. 13 Knesset members abstained from the vote. The bill has to pass another two readings to be enacted into legislation but the opposition Likud and the caolition's One Israel party chairmen announced Tuesday that elections would be called either for May 1 or May 8.

Barak said he would not resign but will run for the party leadership in the next elections. Knesset Chairman Avrum Burg said he would challenge Barak for the party leadership.

The One Israel faction met late Tuesday night to discuss its next move amid the political crisis and a national emergency in the wake of a mini-war with the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.