israel-moves-to-dissolve-parliament-early-elections-likely

Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favour of a bill that sets in motion the process to dissolve the Knesset, paving the way for early national elections and deepening the political crisis facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Around 120 members of the Knesset participated in the vote, with a majority supporting the move. The bill will now be referred to a committee, where an election date will be finalised before being sent for further parliamentary readings. If it clears all stages, Israel could head to elections within 90 days.

The development comes at a politically volatile moment for Netanyahu, who is already facing mounting pressure from coalition partners, ultra-Orthodox factions, and the public amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and tensions with Iran.

Yair Golan, leader of the left-wing Democrats, hailed the vote, calling it the beginning of what he termed the “October 7 elections”, referring to the 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel. He said voters would “send home the government of negligence”.

Also read: Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal rally to block Paramount-Warner deal

Netanyahu’s coalition has been weakened further by internal dissent, particularly over a contentious bill on military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox communities. Two key partners, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), have already quit the government, pushing it closer to collapse.

The Israeli leader also faces long-standing corruption charges involving allegations of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing, calling the cases a “witch hunt”, and is reportedly seeking a pardon from President Isaac Herzog.

Public support for Netanyahu has also eroded significantly since the Hamas attack in October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza. Recent surveys suggest a growing number of voters, including within his Likud base, are seeking alternatives ahead of a possible election.

With the parliamentary process now underway, Israel appears headed towards an early electoral showdown that could reshape its political landscape.