Israeli lawmakers advance bill to dissolve parliament

JERUSALEM: Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday moved forward with a bill that could dissolve parliament and open the way for early elections, according to the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The measure was approved in a preliminary reading in the Knesset, where 110 of the chamber’s 120 members voted in favour. No lawmaker voted against it, while the remaining members did not cast a vote.

The bill was submitted by Netanyahu’s ruling coalition. Under the parliamentary process outlined in the report, the proposed legislation will now be sent to a committee before returning for three additional readings.

If the bill is eventually passed in full, it would automatically set in motion elections to be held 90 days later.

Next steps in parliament

The preliminary vote does not by itself dissolve parliament, but it marks the first formal step in that direction. The legislation must still clear committee review and then secure approval in three more readings before becoming law.

The development comes as Israel’s current election timetable remains set for the end of the legislative term on October 27. If the dissolution bill completes the legislative process, that schedule would be replaced by an earlier vote within three months.

Pressure on Netanyahu coalition

The move comes at a time when Netanyahu is facing growing political strain inside his governing alliance. The prime minister is under mounting pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties.

At the same time, his right-wing coalition, already described as fractious, appears to be confronting the possibility of collapse. The strong support for the bill in its preliminary reading underscored the seriousness of the political challenge facing the government.

While the legislation still has several stages to clear, Wednesday’s vote has pushed Israel closer to the prospect of an early national election. The coming committee stage and subsequent readings will determine whether the bill ultimately succeeds and whether the country heads to the polls ahead of the current schedule.

The parliamentary development is the latest sign of instability within Israel’s governing bloc, with coalition tensions now feeding into a formal legislative effort that could bring the current parliament to an end before the completion of its term.