JERUSALEM, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli lawmakers gave preliminary approval last week to a bill to dissolve the Knesset, the country's parliament, potentially triggering early elections, with recent polls suggesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lose the election.
The political uncertainty comes as Israel remains engaged in fighting on several fronts and faces mounting domestic disputes over military conscription, wartime policies and Netanyahu's corruption charges for which he is standing trial.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Ofir Katz, chairman of the Israeli government coalition and a lawmaker from Netanyahu's Likud party, submitted a bill earlier this month to dissolve parliament, together with the heads of all coalition factions.
The move came one day after the Degel HaTorah faction of the United Torah Judaism, one of the ultra-Orthodox political parties that are key partners in Netanyahu's coalition, announced that it would push to dissolve the Knesset and advance the next election, citing the coalition's failure to pass a draft exemption law for students at Jewish seminaries, according to The Times of Israel.
On May 20, Israeli lawmakers gave preliminary approval to the bill. The bill, which still requires three full readings, passed with 110 votes in favor in the 120-member parliament. There were no votes against.
For decades, full-time students at Jewish seminaries have been exempt from the country's mandatory military service, though some members of the ultra-Orthodox community do serve. The policy, long supported by the ultra-Orthodox parties, has faced growing criticism after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the prolonged regional conflicts that followed.
According to The Jerusalem Post, the crisis over the conscription law now goes far beyond the question of military service, becoming a test of the alliance between Netanyahu and the partners on whom his rule has rested for more than a decade.
It is also a test of the entire political system: whether it can reach especially explosive elections without the struggle for power further eroding public trust in the rules of the game, the newspaper said.
WHAT'S NEXT?
According to the Israel Democracy Institute, dissolving the Knesset requires several legislative stages before becoming final under Israeli law. The preliminary vote passed last week is only the first step. The bill must still clear committee discussions and additional readings before elections can formally be scheduled.
Elections in Israel typically take place at least 90 days from the passage of the dissolution law. The law itself will state the date of the scheduled elections, which must be no more than five months after the date the law is passed, said the institute.
If the process is completed, elections are expected to take place earlier than the current legal deadline of Oct. 27, with Israeli media reporting that a possible ballot could be held between September and late October.
Even if parliament dissolves, Netanyahu would likely remain caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed, a process that in Israel's fragmented political system can take weeks or months, according to the institute.
Israel has experienced repeated cycles of political deadlock in recent years. The country held five elections within less than four years between 2019 and 2022. Netanyahu returned to power at the end of 2022, leading what is widely seen as Israel's most right-wing government to date.
CHALLENGES FOR NETANYAHU
Recent polls suggest that Netanyahu could lose the election. Surveys show his current coalition of right-wing parties would win about 50 seats, falling short of a majority of at least 61 required to form a government, although the opposition camp remains fragmented.
His potential challengers include former prime minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party. Bennett and Lapid announced in late April a joint political list named "Together" to challenge Netanyahu's bloc in the upcoming elections, emphasizing themes including national recovery, governance reform and rebuilding international credibility.
Netanyahu continues to face corruption charges in an ongoing trial. He denies all charges.
Observers say security issues, the Gaza conflict, relations with Iran, and the debate over military conscription are likely to dominate any upcoming election campaign.
More broadly, analysts say the political turmoil reflects deeper tensions within Israeli society, including disputes over military service and wartime governance. The current crisis has added pressure on the country's already fragmented political system. Enditem
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