Israeli lawmakers began the process on Wednesday of dissolving parliament and scheduling new national elections. A prominent opposition figure described the move as the start of the end for the current administration. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served as head of government for much of the past three decades, leads a coalition that includes far-right and religious parties. The government has overseen increased construction in the West Bank and restrictions on some international organizations operating in Palestinian areas. Following the October 2023 attacks that killed around 1,200 people in Israel, Israeli forces conducted operations in Gaza that resulted in significant casualties and widespread destruction, which the United Nations has characterized as genocide. Netanyahu continues to face corruption charges. Public opinion surveys indicate declining support for Israel in Western Europe and the United States, while domestic views in Israel have moved further to the right. Political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin noted that the coalition’s longevity surprised many observers. She explained that the partnership relied on ultra-nationalist and ultra-orthodox parties holding a slim majority. A long-standing point of contention has been legislation to exempt most ultra-orthodox men from military service, an issue that has contributed to previous government collapses. The coalition ultimately fractured when partners withdrew support over this unresolved matter. A vote to dissolve parliament passed with 110 of 120 members in favor. The earliest possible election date is late August, with a deadline of late October. Although Netanyahu remains the leading candidate for prime minister in recent polls, his bloc is projected to fall short of a majority. Opposition parties, which hold more seats in surveys, largely represent moderate or secular right-leaning groups rather than progressive factions.
