Israeli lawmakers voted on Wednesday to begin dissolving parliament, triggering a process that could lead to fresh elections by late August. The move marks a significant political shift for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has led a far-right coalition for the past four years. The coalition's collapse was precipitated by a longstanding dispute over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men, which had repeatedly threatened the government's stability.
The vote to dissolve the Knesset received support from 110 out of 120 members, reflecting widespread discontent. Under Israeli law, a three-month pre-election period is required, with the earliest possible polling day in late August and a final deadline of 27 October. This will be the fifth national election in Israel in just over four years, highlighting the country's persistent political instability.
Netanyahu remains the most popular candidate for prime minister, consistently topping polls since August 2024. However, his coalition has struggled to secure a majority, with polls over the past two years showing it winning between 49 and 56 seats out of 120. No party in Israeli history has ever won an outright majority, meaning Netanyahu will again rely on fragile coalition partners if he hopes to remain in power.
The collapse comes amid growing international criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Since Hamas's attack on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis, Netanyahu's government has conducted a military campaign that has killed or injured more than 10% of Gaza's population, according to a UN commission that declared it a genocide. Settlement construction in the West Bank has also accelerated, while many humanitarian NGOs have been banned from Palestinian territories.
Political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin noted that public opinion in Israel has shifted further right, while support for Israel in Western Europe and the US is at its lowest ever level. Netanyahu himself remains on trial for corruption charges, adding another layer of uncertainty to the political landscape. The coming months will likely redefine Israel's political order, but without resolving its most entrenched conflicts.
