Netanyahu Furious at Aryeh Deri’s Absence During Crucial Knesset Dissolution Vote

During the dramatic late-night session marking the completion of the 25th Knesset’s term, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed intense anger at Shas party leader Aryeh Deri for missing the critical vote to dissolve the Knesset. Netanyahu confronted Shas members, emphasizing that Deri should have been present at the decisive moment. Despite Deri’s absence, the coalition narrowly secured the necessary 61 votes to pass the dissolution and the party funding law for the 26th Knesset after hours of tense negotiations and efforts to locate absent lawmakers.

The political drama unfolded between Thursday night and early Friday morning at the Knesset, with Netanyahu visibly frustrated over the empty seat of his senior coalition partner. He reportedly said, “He was supposed to be here! I sent someone specifically to him.” The vote officially ended the current Knesset’s tenure and triggered the upcoming elections, transitioning Israel into a caretaker government period starting Saturday.

Alongside the dissolution vote, the Knesset managed to approve several significant social, economic, and security-related bills in its final hours. The session was marked by uncertainty and missing lawmakers who did not respond to calls, underscoring the tense atmosphere. The official recess will last until the 26th Knesset convenes following the elections.

This episode highlights internal coalition tensions and the challenges Netanyahu faces in maintaining unity ahead of the 2026 elections.