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.
