Israel Coalition Dissolves One Year After Formation: "Fifth Election Within Three Years"

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Israel's ruling coalition is reportedly pushing for a voluntary dissolution of the coalition just over a year after its launch, according to AP News and others on the 20th (local time). Israel, suffering from severe political division, will hold its fifth general election in the past three years if the parliamentary dissolution bill passes.

According to reports, the two main pillars leading the coalition, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, stated in a joint statement on the day, "We are tired of the options to stabilize a coalition made up of various parties." Prime Minister Bennett said at a press conference, "It is not an easy moment, but we have made the right decision for Israel," adding, "I will do my best for the success of the interim prime minister."

They plan to submit the Knesset (parliament) dissolution bill next week for a vote. If the parliamentary dissolution bill passes, the 36th Israeli government, launched on June 13 last year, will be automatically dissolved, and Foreign Minister Lapid will serve as interim prime minister until a new government is formed through an early general election. The likely date for the next general election is October 25.

If the election is held this time, it will be the fifth election in the past three years. During the general elections in April and September 2019, coalition government formation failed due to disagreements between parties. After the March 2020 general election, the Likud Party led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Blue and White Party led by current Defense Minister Benny Gantz formed a coalition under the pretext of overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, but it collapsed seven months after its launch.

After the March general election last year, eight small parties that agreed to oust long-term Prime Minister Netanyahu launched a coalition, but conflicts between parties intensified, leading to the coalition's dissolution.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.