Israeli Knesset Approves Dissolution, Sets October 27 Elections

The 25th Knesset, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, approved its own dissolution late Friday night in a second and third reading vote. The bill, which included the clause for dissolving the Knesset, passed with 62 supporting votes. The opposition did not oppose the bill, and the next elections were scheduled for October 27. Earlier on Friday, a dramatic dispute arose between Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and the opposition. Deri refused to support the party funding bill without opposition backing, fearing that increased party budgets would benefit the opposition more than Shas and that he would bear the brunt of public criticism alone. Had the bill failed, the Knesset dissolution would have been postponed to the following week, allowing the coalition to continue legislative work and causing parties to lose millions of shekels needed for election campaigns. Deri rejected the possibility that the opposition would withhold support to avoid appearing complicit in "wasting public funds," ultimately leading to the opposition's backing of the bill.

Earlier in the night, the Knesset also approved a law postponing the reduction of mandatory IDF service by five years. Additionally, a communications law was passed by a vote of 53 to 48, establishing a new Broadcast Authority to replace the Second Authority and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council, with an annual budget of 25 million shekels. The authority's policy council will be appointed by the Director-General of the Ministry of Communications.

The article also references ongoing political pressures related to ultra-Orthodox factions and mentions a significant transportation reform that risks being shelved.