Report: Netanyahu Asks His Advisors to Prepare for the Possibility of Dissolving the Knesset Soon

SadaNews – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly assures his ministers that his government will continue its work until the end of its legal term on October 27, stressing that "the state budget will be approved, and elections will be held on schedule."

Nevertheless, reports indicate that Netanyahu recently instructed his advisors to prepare for the possibility of dissolving the Knesset approximately four months earlier than the official schedule. He also requested the formation of a team to lead the Likud's election campaign, necessitating internal elections to choose the list of candidates, as reported by the "Wynet" website on Wednesday.

Netanyahu promises his ministers a law that exempts Haredim from military service, despite his awareness of how difficult it will be to pass this law, prompting him to consider the scenario of an early Knesset dissolution should the law or the state budget fail to be approved.

A high-ranking government source clarified to "Wynet" that Netanyahu "is showing everyone that the elections will take place on time to avoid an atmosphere of internal weakness or collapse, but in practice, he is preparing Likud for the possibility of the Knesset being dissolved soon."

On the other hand, Haredi parties continue to refuse to vote on coalition bills due to the failure to approve the conscription law, while some Likud members oppose the format presented by Foreign Affairs and Security Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth, which stipulates exempting Haredim from military service.

This standoff led the coalition to withdraw bills from the Knesset's agenda earlier this week, after the Haredi parties announced their lack of support, especially following a campaign of arrests targeting Haredi youths who refused conscription. Observers believe that this crisis could lead to the Knesset's dissolution as an unavoidable option.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu has yet to make a final decision, as he is torn between holding elections in June, meaning dissolving the Knesset in March, or in September. However, he leans more towards the June option due to the strong opposition to the exemption from conscription law.

Meanwhile, the Likud party issued a statement today denying the accuracy of reports regarding the advancement of the election date, affirming that "the state budget and conscription law will pass, the government will complete its term, and the elections will take place on schedule."