Israel on the brink of early elections: Netanyahu weakened after shock Knesset vote

Israel is moving closer to early elections after the Knesset approved a bill to dissolve parliament in its first reading on Wednesday. This decision represents another blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, already weakened by the war triggered by Hamas attacks in 2023.

Israeli lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the bill paving the way for early elections. If the law is definitively passed in the coming weeks, elections could be held before the current deadline of October 27.

The dissolution proposal was submitted by Netanyahu's own governing coalition, revealing the deep divisions within his camp. An ultra-Orthodox faction, a traditional ally of the Prime Minister, accuses him of failing to honor his commitment regarding a law exempting their community from mandatory military service.

In total, 110 members of parliament supported the bill during this first reading, with no opposition or abstentions. The bill must now be examined by a committee to set a date for the elections before a final vote in Parliament.

This political crisis comes as polls show a sharp decline in support for Benjamin Netanyahu. Several opinion surveys indicate that he could lose the upcoming elections, which would be the first held since Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip.

Since the start of the conflict, Netanyahu has faced increasing criticism regarding his handling of national security, the conduct of the war, and internal divisions within his government. Tensions surrounding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews have further exacerbated the fragility of his coalition.

A definitive dissolution of the Knesset would open a new period of political uncertainty in Israel, in a particularly explosive regional context and while the country remains engaged on several security fronts.