JERUSALEM, July 17– Israel’s Knesset, the country’s parliament, on Friday voted unanimously to dissolve itself, paving the way for general elections scheduled for Oct. 27.
From then until the elections, the government will operate as a caretaker government, with limited authority to advance major policy initiatives except for broadly supported legislation, routine regulatory matters and measures required for security needs.
Under Israeli law, general elections for parliament are held every four years. This will mark the first time since 1988 that elections have been held after a full four-year term.
In its final days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s narrow right-wing religious coalition pushed through a series of bills, including legislation allowing gender segregation at universities, easing restrictions on the detention of ultra-Orthodox Jews who avoid military service, and curbing the powers of the media and the judiciary.
Recent polls published by Israeli media outlets suggest that the current coalition parties would win around 50 seats in the 120-seat parliament, leaving Netanyahu short of the majority needed to form another government under the current coalition structure.
According to polls, the centrist Yashar party, led by former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot, appears to have the strongest chance of forming a coalition.
However, Eisenkot may need support from Arab parties to secure the 61 seats required to form a government, a prospect opposed by some parties expected to join his coalition. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
