Israeli parliament votes to advance bill to dissolve Knesset, paving way for early elections

Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to advance a bill to dissolve the Knesset, a move that could pave the way for early elections and deepen political uncertainty for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.In a preliminary reading, 110 out of 120 members of parliament supported the motion, with no votes against and the remainder abstaining. The bill, introduced by the ruling coalition itself, now moves to committee stage before undergoing three further readings required for final approval.If ultimately passed, the dissolution would automatically trigger elections within 90 days, potentially bringing forward the vote that is currently due by October 27 at the latest.The development comes amid growing strain within Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, particularly over disputes with ultra-Orthodox parties. They have accused the prime minister of failing to fulfil commitments to pass legislation granting military service exemptions for their communities, a long-standing political flashpoint in Israel.

Coalition tensions have opened the door for opposition parties, which have been pushing for early elections and seeking to capitalise on Netanyahu’s declining political standing in opinion polls. “The dissolution of the Knesset, approved in a preliminary reading this Wednesday, could still be suspended if the exemption (for ultra-Orthodox students) passed beforehand,” said Israeli political columnist Myriam Shermer, adding that the situation could still shift depending on security developments or legislative deals, as quoted by AFP.On Wednesday, coalition chairman Ofir Katz said: “This coalition has completed its days.”Political analysts say the timing of the move could shape the electoral narrative, with some suggesting Netanyahu may prefer elections sooner rather than later to avoid the anniversary of the October 7 attacks dominating campaigning.“The election campaign has begun,” opposition leaders have said, as rival blocs begin positioning for what could be another closely contested and fragmented vote, with no clear path to a stable governing majority emerging so far.