The Israeli Coalition Submits Bill to Dissolve the Knesset
The final election date will be determined during discussions in the Knesset committee. The bill is expected to pass its preliminary reading next Wednesday, while efforts continue to reach an agreed da
By Daphna Liel
-
News in Brief:
-
Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset.
-
Leaders of all coalition factions submitted the proposal together with Katz.
-
The final election date will be determined during discussions in the Knesset Committee.
-
The bill is expected to pass its preliminary reading within a week.
-
Efforts will continue to reach an agreed election date between Benjamin Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties.
-
Why it matters: The move is intended to allow the coalition to control the pace of the Knesset dissolution process.
Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz submitted the bill Wednesday together with the heads of all coalition factions. According to the proposal, the election date will be decided during deliberations in the House Committee. The purpose of the dissolution bill is to control the pace of the process. The proposal is expected to pass its preliminary reading within a week.
Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu want to maintain control over the process of dissolving the Knesset and in the past 24 hours considered leading the move themselves. At the same time, with the coalition controlling the process, efforts by Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties to agree on an election date are expected to continue until a dissolution law is approved earlier than originally planned.
Possible Election Dates and Coalition Dispute
-
The Prime Minister would prefer elections to be held on October 27.
-
Members of United Torah Judaism would prefer September 1.
-
Shas wants elections to be held on September 15, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, in order to encourage voter turnout close to prayer times.