Israeli Knesset Committee Approves Self-Dissolution Amid Election Date Disputes

The Knesset committee members voted with a majority of eight in favor and no opposition to pass the coalition's bill to dissolve the Knesset, setting the stage for its first reading in the plenary session, according to the Times of Israel.

The newspaper reported that due to disagreements within the coalition, Knesset Committee Chairman and coalition leader, Ofir Katz, announced the bill would be passed without specifying a date for the early elections.

It was explained that the date for the upcoming elections is expected to be included in the bill’s text before the final two readings required for its full approval.

Katz only indicated that the proposed timeframe would fall between September 8 and October 26.

Hebrew-language reports state that the Haredi parties in the Knesset prefer holding the elections in the early days of September, coinciding with the Jewish High Holy Days of Tishrei.

The reports added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Haredi parties not to push for early elections in September, warning in closed discussions that such timing could jeopardize the right-wing bloc’s chances of winning.

During the Knesset committee discussions on dissolving the parliament, attorney Din Livni, acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, informed the committee that September 15 is the most complicated date as it falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Livni further stated that while the Elections Committee can prepare for elections in fewer than 90 days, it would appreciate being granted at least 83 days, as reported by the Hebrew newspaper.