Israel’s Knesset on July 17 voted to dissolve itself early, paving the way for parliamentary elections in October. The vote followed a series of hastily adopted legislative measures aimed at supporting the coalition partners.
The decision received backing from 62 of the 120 Knesset members, setting the stage for elections scheduled for October 27. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking re-election despite a decline in his popularity.
A Series of Controversial Bills
In recent days, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu pushed several controversial bills through parliament to strengthen its position and satisfy its ultra-Orthodox coalition partners.
During a marathon final session, the coalition managed to pass a comprehensive package of bills. Among them are measures that limit the powers of the government’s legal advisor, freeze the arrest of draft dodgers, and expand state control over the media. Alongside the bill for the Knesset’s dissolution, an increase in state funding for political parties was also approved.
Further Work of the Parliament
Despite the decision to dissolve, the Knesset’s legal advisor Sagit Afik indicated that the parliament could continue its work for about 10 more days. This is due to the bill determining the election date being returned to the relevant committee after an inconclusive vote.
However, this procedural delay will not prevent the completion of the parliament’s term.
Source: The Straits Times
