Israel to Dissolve Knesset Ahead of October 27 Election

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, will be dissolved on Friday, paving the way for a national election on October 27, British newspaper The Guardian reported on Tuesday.

The election will be Israel’s first national vote since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. It will serve as a major test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, which has faced international criticism and allegations of war crimes over its conduct during the Gaza war.

In the previous election, Netanyahu’s Likud party won the largest number of seats but failed to secure an outright majority. He was therefore forced to form a coalition with far-right parties, resulting in what critics described as the most hardline government in Israel’s history. The coalition has been accused by opponents of prioritizing the expansion of settlements in Palestinian territories and limiting Palestinian rights.

With only a few parliamentary sessions remaining, lawmakers have agreed to dissolve the Knesset on Friday. Before the dissolution, however, Netanyahu’s coalition is reportedly seeking to pass several controversial bills in an effort to strengthen its position among voters ahead of the election.

The election campaign is also raising concerns over possible escalation in the occupied West Bank. Critics fear that settlement expansion on Palestinian land could increase ahead of the vote, potentially leading to further violence against Palestinians in the territory.

Opinion polls suggest that Netanyahu, 76, could lose the premiership in the upcoming election. However, the veteran leader has repeatedly defied previous forecasts and returned to power despite unfavorable polling.