The Israeli Parliament (Knesset) advanced a bill on Monday to dissolve itself and call early elections, following a committee vote that sent the legislation to the plenary for two final readings, after one of the ultra‑Orthodox parties supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition withdrew its support over the long‑standing issue of exempting the ultra‑Orthodox from military service.

The plenary will vote on the bill on Monday afternoon; it must pass two votes before final approval. Committee chairman Ofir Katz proposed holding elections between September 8 and October 20, but another deputy demanded they be moved up to September 2.

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The bill does not set a specific date, leaving the decision to the parliamentary committee, which normally schedules elections at least 90 days after final approval. However, Central Election Committee president Din Livne said Monday that elections could be prepared with 83 days’ notice.

If the bill passes, elections must be held within five months of its approval, setting a late October deadline.

In any case, the law requires elections before October 27, when the five‑year term expires. The coalition destabilized after an ultra‑Orthodox party announced it was withdrawing its support.

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