Knesset approves bill to dissolve itself in first reading
Lawmakers voted 106-0 to approve the first reading of a coalition bill to dissolve the Knesset and potentially trigger early elections, following a lengthy debate that stretched from Monday night into early Tuesday.
The bill, which must pass three readings to become law, was approved by the Knesset House Committee on Monday and immediately sent to the plenum. Due to coalition disagreements, committee chairman and coalition whip Ofir Katz advanced it without setting an election date, saying one would be added before the final two readings. For now, he said the date would fall between September 8 and October 26.
Elections must be held within five months of the law’s passage, meaning by October 27 at the latest. Chareidi parties reportedly favor early September, ahead of the yomim nora’im. Netanyahu has reportedly urged them not to force September elections, warning privately that such a timeline would “endanger” his right-wing bloc’s chances.
The bill passed a preliminary reading 110-0 less than two weeks ago but was not immediately advanced, as the coalition initially showed little urgency.
The move came after Netanyahu’s former allies in the United Torah Judaism party said they would push to dissolve the Knesset over the coalition’s failure to pass legislation preserving military conscription exemptions for chareidi yeshiva bochurim.
