Israeli lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to pass a bill to dissolve the Knesset, a move that could pave the way for snap elections and deepen political uncertainty for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.On the first reading, 110 out of 120 MPs supported the motion, with no one voting against and the remainder abstaining. The bill, introduced by the ruling coalition itself, has now reached committee stage before undergoing the three rounds of further reading required for final approval.If ultimately passed, the dissolution would automatically trigger an election within 90 days, potentially delaying the vote currently due until October 27 at the latest.The development comes amid growing pressure within Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, particularly over disputes with ultra-Orthodox parties. They accuse the prime minister of failing to fulfill his promise to pass legislation granting exemptions to military service for his community, a long-running political flashpoint in Israel.Tensions over the alliance open the door to opposition parties, which have been pushing for snap elections and seeking to take advantage of Netanyahu’s declining political standing in the polls. “If the exemption (for ultra-Orthodox students) is approved in advance, the dissolution of the Knesset, which was approved in the first reading on Wednesday, may still be suspended,” Israeli political columnist Miriam Shermer said. He added that the situation could still change based on security developments or legislative agreements, as quoted by AFP.“This league’s days are over,” league president Ofir Katz said Wednesday.Political analysts said the timing of the move could affect the electoral narrative, with some suggesting Netanyahu may prefer to hold elections sooner rather than later to avoid the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack dominating the campaign.Opposition leaders say “the campaigning has begun” as rival groups begin preparations for another hotly contested and fragmented vote, but so far there is no clear path to a stable governing majority.
