The Knesset has put forward a bill to dissolve itself. It’s a formality, but an important one: if it makes it through the rest of the process, you could have an election by September, or at the latest, late October.
Here are the immediate developments to watch:
– The Knesset backed a preliminary dissolution bill
– Further parliamentary votes are still required
– Elections could be held as early as September
– A legal deadline looms by late October
Coalition strains reach a breaking point
What’s behind the tension is a break in the ranks of an ultra-Orthodox party that has been a steady backer of the prime minister. They are done with the row over conscription and have made a move to force new elections. It’s not just a matter of policy; for a government that some call the most right-wing in Israel’s history, it’s a crack in the foundation. You could say it’s the steepest test for Netanyahu since he made his return in 2022.
Trump’s 99 percent line lands amid rising stakes
Trump, for his part, told reporters he was “99% in Israel” at the time and mused on the idea of running for PM. He said he had seen a poll that morning to back it up. A video of him saying he might “go to Israel and run for prime minister” has been making the rounds, which only put more of a spotlight on the remark.
He has a good rapport with many on the right in Israel, given his record on things like the Abraham Accords and Jerusalem. In the same conversation, he put in a word for the prime minister, calling him a wartime leader who hasn’t been shown enough respect. He also made his usual point that the war would be over in short order and talked of nixing an attack that would have put an end to the ceasefire.
Public mood and the post-October 7 recalibration
It’s no secret from the polls that support for the coalition has waned since the Hamas assault of 2023, with plenty of finger-pointing over security. Every party is doing the math on whether an early vote is in their interest.
Why the ultra-Orthodox dispute is decisive now
The issue of exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men has always been a sore spot, but now it’s a numbers game. With a former ally now on the side of dissolving the Knesset, any hope of a deal is gone. After 17 years of holding on to power with the help of these ties, this is a change of course for Netanyahu.
A global aside: Trump on Xi and Putin
On a different note, Trump was asked about Xi and Putin’s get-together in China. “We topped them,” he said of the ceremony, and noted he has a fine relationship with both. He called it a positive thing.
In the end, as the Knesset makes its last moves, the whole schedule for Israel may be up in the air. The Trump quip will pass, but what you have to keep your eye on is the fracture in the coalition.
