Israel's parliament has approved a bill to dissolve itself in a preliminary reading, moving the country closer to a general election that polls suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could lose. The bill, which passed almost unanimously in the 120-seat Knesset, now proceeds to committee where an election date will be agreed, before returning for final approval requiring a 61-member majority.
An election date has yet to be set, but political commentators in Israel say it is likely in the first half of September, though it could be held nearer to the 27 October deadline. The last national election was in November 2022, and early elections have occurred frequently in Israel's political history.
Netanyahu's government faces renewed instability after a key ultra-Orthodox Jewish faction, traditionally a staunch ally, declared it no longer considers the prime minister a partner and will push for an early election. The faction cited the coalition's failure to deliver on a promise to exempt their community from compulsory military service.
Polls have consistently shown Netanyahu's governing coalition falling far short of a parliamentary majority since the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. His main challenger is Naftali Bennett, a former aide who ousted Netanyahu in 2021 and has now joined forces with centre-left opposition head Yair Lapid to form a new party, Together, which is neck and neck with Likud. Another contender is former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
Should the dissolution bill pass, it could energise the opposition's campaign and curtail the ruling coalition's ability to advance contentious legislation. However, there is a chance that opposition parties may fail to form a coalition, leaving Netanyahu at the head of an interim government, as has happened previously during a period of political stalemate that saw five elections in under four years.
