Israeli president Shimon Peres has told parliament that, having consulted all political parties about the possibility of forming a coalition government, there was no option but to hold a general election.
His statement came a day after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the head of the largest party, Kadima, said that she had given up attempts to form a viable coalition.
She became leader of the Kadima party after outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stepped down amid corruption investigations.
General elections are expected to be held around February 2009.
