Senior figures in the coalition are pressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dissolve the Knesset as early as this week, according to a Saturday night report by Amit Segal on Channel 12 News. Their warning is tied to growing concern that delaying the move could damage the ultra-Orthodox legislative agenda now underway.
The message delivered to Netanyahu was blunt: “The longer you wait, the more the ultra-Orthodox legislation will hurt you. It is better for you to dissolve the Knesset this week and enter a transitional government.” The coalition officials fear that waiting too long could derail bills demanded by the ultra-Orthodox parties, especially two central measures, a Basic Law on Torah study and a law to stop the arrest of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders.
Segal reported that Netanyahu has not yet made a final decision. The prime minister is weighing the pressure to dissolve parliament against other political considerations. In recent days, Netanyahu also told senior ultra-Orthodox party officials that the daycare subsidy law will not pass in the current Knesset term, prompting anger among ultra-Orthodox lawmakers.
Even if Netanyahu dissolves the Knesset this week, the election date would not change. Voting is already set by law for October 20. What early dissolution would do is remove many bills from the agenda, including the communications bill, the bill to split the attorney general’s authority, the override clause, and the ultra-Orthodox-backed laws on Torah study and stopping the detention of Torah students.
