Coalition Looking to Bring Forward Vote to Dissolve Knesset

The coalition is examining the possibility of bringing forward the vote on dissolving the Knesset as soon as Wednesday in order to thwart the opposition’s attempt to form an alternative government in the current Knesset.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced their intention to dissolve the Knesset on Monday evening, triggering Israel’s fifth snap election in just three years.

However, government officials are unable to contact rebel MK Nir Orbach of Bennett’s Yamina Party, who is supposed to table the law as part of his role as chairman of the Knesset committee. Coalition officials fear that Orbach is helping the opposition to form an alternative government and will try to stall to prevent snap elections.

Orbach last week said that he will not vote with the coalition until the controversial Yehudah and Shomron emergency regulations – which extend legal protections to Jewish residents – are extended. Shortly after, opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu urged Orbach to resign from the coalition and “come back back to the Right.”

Meanwhile, sources said Tuesday that in surveys conducted by Bennett’s Yamina Party, the faction is projected to win seven seats in the upcoming elections. Sources said that Bennett intends to run as Yamina chair along with his current party members – Ayelet Shaked, Matan Kahana, Abir Kara and Shirley Pinto.

The move to dissolve the Knesset brings an end to the fragile governing alliance that consists of nationalist, centrist, left-wing and Arab parties and is held together by little more than shared disdain for Netanyahu.