Israel is heading into a national election on October 27 after parliament formally dissolved on Friday, opening a campaign that will test Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hold on power.
The dissolution of the 25th Knesset came after a final overnight voting session in Jerusalem. It marks the first time since 1988 that an Israeli parliament has completed its full legally mandated four-year term, a rare outcome in a political system where coalitions often collapse early.
Lawmakers used the final session to pass measures needed before the campaign could begin, including party funding rules that release state-regulated money for political parties. That vote effectively locked in the October 27 election date.
Netanyahu’s coalition also pushed through legislation sought by religious and nationalist allies before parliament went into recess. One communications law passed 53-48 and replaces independent media regulators with a government-supervised broadcast authority.
Another approved measure shields ultra-Orthodox men from military conscription, an issue that has long divided Israeli politics and repeatedly strained coalition talks.
The election sends Netanyahu into a campaign shaped by Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, as well as public arguments over the role of religion, the media and the courts in Israeli public life.
The opposition moved quickly to frame the vote as a chance to end Netanyahu’s rule. Avigdor Liberman, a secular right-wing politician and former Netanyahu ally, wrote on social media: “On October 27, we will win. We will replace the government… and rebuild the country.”
Netanyahu’s coalition now leaves parliament intact, but not settled. The next test comes at the ballot box on October 27.
