Israel Knesset votes to dissolve, election set for Oct 27

Israel's parliament voted to dissolve itself early on Friday, July 17, 2026, formally ending the current government's term and setting the stage for national elections on October 27. The vote, passed by 62 members of the 120-seat Knesset, marks the conclusion of the first Israeli government to complete a full four-year term since 1988.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition pushed through a series of contentious bills in a final legislative blitz before the dissolution. These last-minute measures included legislation that freezes arrests of draft dodgers, expands government oversight of broadcast media, and strips powers from the attorney general. The coalition also passed a bill extending mandatory military service from 30 to 32 months. Much of this activity was seen as an effort to shore up support from ultra-Orthodox political parties, whose backing has been crucial for Netanyahu, by effectively halting the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men into the military.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, now faces a challenging re-election campaign. Opinion polls indicate waning popularity, with a majority of Israelis reportedly wanting him to step down, driven by...