Lawmakers in Israel on Wednesday voted to advance a bill that could dissolve the country’s parliament and trigger early elections, dealing a fresh political challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ruling coalition.
The bill, submitted by members of the governing coalition, passed its preliminary reading in the Knesset with 110 lawmakers voting in favour and none opposed, while the remaining members abstained from voting.
The proposed legislation will now move to a parliamentary committee before undergoing three additional readings required for final approval.
If eventually passed into law, the measure would automatically dissolve parliament and trigger national elections within 90 days. Under the current schedule, elections are due to take place at the end of the legislative term on October 27.
Netanyahu’s government has come under increasing strain in recent weeks, particularly from ultra-Orthodox coalition partners threatening to withdraw support from the administration.
The ultra-Orthodox parties have accused the prime minister of failing to fulfil commitments to enact legislation granting permanent exemptions from compulsory military service for young men enrolled in yeshivas, or Jewish religious seminaries.
The growing divisions within the coalition have fuelled speculation about the possible collapse of Netanyahu’s right-wing alliance.
Amid the political uncertainty, opposition parties earlier this month signalled plans to introduce separate motions seeking the dissolution of parliament, hoping to capitalise on the coalition’s internal disputes.
Speaking after Wednesday’s vote, coalition chairman Ofir Katz declared that the government had reached the end of its tenure.
“This coalition has completed its days,” Katz said, while also defending the coalition’s legislative record, noting that it had passed nine national budgets and more than 500 laws during its term.
The bill does not yet specify a date for elections, as that decision is expected to be determined during the committee stage of the legislative process.
