The coalition’s bill to dissolve the Knesset passed its first reading in the plenum late on Monday night, with a large majority of 106 lawmakers in favor and none against, advancing the process of moving the election date up slightly from October 27.
The passage of the dissolution bill comes after a dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties over the contentious draft bill.
The Knesset House Committee approved the dissolution bill for its first reading on Monday morning. No election date was set by the House Committee earlier in the day amid disagreements among lawmakers.
Instead, it was agreed to advance the dissolution bill to its first reading and to later finalize the date ahead of the bill’s second and third readings. The panel agreed on a range of possible dates to move up the elections, from September 8 to October 20.
Coalition Whip Ofir Katz noted that these dates would not be limiting and that lawmakers would still be able to choose a different date outside that range later on if they decided to do so.
The coalition’s bill to dissolve the Knesset passed its preliminary reading last week on Wednesday, with a large majority of 110 lawmakers in favor and none against.
The bill must still pass a total of two more readings in the plenum to come into effect.
The late-night vote in the plenum came after a group of lawmakers returned from a recent trip to New York, where they had marched in the Israel Parade.
Dissolution bill grants greater control over electoral process
The coalition’s submission of a bill for its own dissolution has been viewed as a way for the prime minister to control the pace and timing of the elections, as it grants the government greater control over the process.
Even if elections are moved up from October 27, they cannot take place in August because, typically, 90 days must pass after a dissolution bill is approved before elections can be held.
That means the elections could be moved up to either early September or mid-October.
Acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, Dean Livne, told the panel on Monday that the committee will hold elections on the date determined by the Knesset.
He noted that it would still be possible to hold elections early, even if they are set for fewer than 90 days away, since 90 days is not stipulated in Basic Law: The Knesset.
However, Livne added that the Central Elections Committee required a minimum preparation period.
“We are taking all necessary steps to be ready as quickly as possible. We would appreciate it if the Knesset provides us with a date no fewer than 83 days in advance,” he told the panel.
Livne also addressed the issues that could arise if the elections are moved up to September and held close to the High Holy Days.
“Several dates have been raised. The most complex date for us, although still feasible, is September 15, because it falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.”
Livne said that if that date were determined, the publication of the election results would be delayed by one day.
“In that case, the time available for counting double-envelope ballots and carrying out election integrity checks would be reduced by 25 hours. If the Knesset chooses that date [September 15], we will request an extension of the deadline for publishing the official results by one day, from eight days to nine.”
Shas, UTJ push for earlier elections
Lawmakers from the haredi parties Shas and UTJ told the panel that they wanted to move up the election date to September, before the High Holy Days. Numerous reports have stated that this would lead to a better turnout among haredi voters.
Netanyahu reportedly has opposed the move and instead seeks to hold elections in late October, allowing the coalition more time to advance legislation during the Knesset’s final session and potentially achieve military goals.
Meanwhile, the coalition has fast-tracked several controversial bills, scheduling marathon committee meetings to advance as much legislation as possible ahead of a potential Knesset dissolution.
The coalition tensions began in mid-May after Netanyahu told the haredi parties that the haredi draft legislation lacked sufficient support within the coalition to pass. This led the parties to push for the Knesset’s dissolution.
Degel Hatorah’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Dov Lando, wrote in a letter to the faction’s Knesset members that, “We no longer have trust in Netanyahu.”
The coalition then attempted to bring the haredi draft bill back for discussion on the same day as the preliminary vote on the Knesset dissolution.
Pushing to move forward with the draft bill, after progress on it was halted, was seen as Netanyahu’s final effort to persuade the haredi parties not to vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset.
However, the haredi faction Degel Hatorah’s spiritual leader instructed United Torah Judaism lawmakers on Sunday evening to stop cooperating with the coalition’s efforts to advance the haredi draft bill, once again setting back progress on the legislation.
The decision came amid doubts about whether the bill can pass, with multiple coalition lawmakers speaking out against it and vowing not to vote for it.
They have warned that it would not solve the IDF’s manpower crisis and could severely harm Israel’s security. The IDF has repeatedly warned of an urgent manpower shortage, particularly after more than two years of war.
Opposition party leaders have vowed that under no circumstances would they form a coalition with the haredi parties after the elections.