A step towards early elections.. The Knesset votes by a majority to dissolve itself and Netanyahu to the fore again

The Israeli Knesset voted by a preliminary reading by 110 votes on a bill to dissolve itself and call for parliamentary elections, amid efforts by Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government coalition headed by him.

After difficult deliberations, the Knesset approved, almost unanimously, 11 separate bills to dissolve parliament drafted by pro-coalition and opposition lawmakers, and it is expected that those bills will be unified into one law.

However, the head of the Knesset Order Committee, which is authorized to discuss these measures, hinted that it would give an opportunity to establish an alternative government for the combination of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, as far-right leader Benjamin Netanyahu is demanding a 10-day deadline to form a right-wing government coalition headed by him, and seeks to return to power. without holding elections.

The results of 4 polls published on Tuesday expected the Likud party led by Netanyahu - and the nationalist and religious parties that are likely to ally with him - to lead the elections, but without obtaining a governing majority in the 120-seat Israeli Knesset.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced Monday their intention to dissolve parliament "after exhausting all attempts to achieve stability" in their coalition, in a decision that would lead to the organization of a fifth election in less than four years.

Local media reported that this vote could take place in late October or early November.

In June 2021, Bennett and Lapid formed a coalition of the right, left and center parties, for the first time, with the participation of an Arab party, in order to end 12 years of Benjamin Netanyahu's continuous rule.

Their agreement stipulated that the two men would rotate at the head of the government, and that Lapid would replace Bennett if the government was dissolved.

And if the bill dissolving the Knesset is eventually passed, Yair Lapid will head the Israeli government until a new government is formed, as the procedures require that the bill be passed in 3 further readings to become effective.