Israeli Lawmakers Advance Bill to Dissolve Parliament

Israeli lawmakers have voted to advance a bill that would dissolve parliament and pave the way for early elections. 
  
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties, while his fractious right-wing coalition appears to be facing possible collapse. 
  
Ultra-Orthodox parties accuse Netanyahu of failing to deliver on his promise to pass legislation that would exempt young men of their community from mandatory military service. Sensing an opportunity amid the turmoil, several opposition parties announced earlier this month that they intended to introduce their own bills to dissolve the Knesset. 
 
The vote comes at a pivotal time for Netanyahu, ⁠Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, who leads the most right-wing government in the country’s history. Israel has been at war on multiple fronts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, while many Israelis blame Netanyahu for the security failure that enabled the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel responded with its genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza. 
 
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