BREAKING: Israel is Heading Towards Elections in October

The Knesset is set to officially dissolve on Monday, June 27

By Nosson Shulman: Licensed Tour Guide of VIP Israel Tours & Authentic Virtual Tours (click here to check out his free trailer videos)

After only one year in power, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and alternative Prime Minister Yair Lapid have decided to dissolve the current government and hold new elections. The bill to officially disband the Knesset will be brought for a final vote on Monday, June 27 and is expected to pass (being that the bill is supported by both the coalition and opposition). When this happens, elections will be immediately called for October 25. Until the country heads to the polls, Bennett has announced that he will step down as Prime Minister and Yair Lapid will be appointed Prime Minister in his place (as per their coalition agreement) with Bennett assuming the title of Alternative Prime Minister. This will make Naftali Bennett the shortest reigning Prime Minister in Israeli history (though Yair Lapid will likely break that record shortly).

The fact that this coalition lasted as long as it did, took many by surprise. Composed of 8 parties (including from the right wing, extreme left, center-left, and for the first time ever an Arab party) who had nothing in common with one another, except for their mutual hatred of Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. They disagreed on practically everything including Judah and Samaria, Religion and State, the economy, national security, the justice system, Corona, and education. In fact, in the last election many of them promised never to serve together if elected, and then quickly folded when given the opportunity. Only two days before the election, Naftali Bennett was asked if he would ever serve with Lapid, and responded, “Never, and under no circumstances, will I ever lend a hand to the establishment of a government led by Yair Lapid, not in a rotation or any other way, for the simple reason that I’m a man of the right and he’s a leftist, and I don’t act against my values.” Because many who voted for these various factions last time felt betrayed that their party would join this unusual coalition, polls indicate that several of these parties are going to have a hard time passing the threshold in the next election (in Israel, a party must gain at least 3.25% of the vote nationally in order to get any seats).

For the top 10 fascinating things you need to know about Israeli elections, click here.

Nosson Shulman is a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here. To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.