Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

110-0 Vote Dissolves Knesset; Netanyahu Warns September Election Risk

5/21/2026

36 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

110-0 reading to dissolve the 25th Knesset was approved on May 20, 2026 after the coalition failed to pass an exemption law for yeshiva students.
The bill now goes to the Knesset House Committee, which must set an election date between 90 days after approval and October 27.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, absent from the vote, urged the parties not to push a September election, fearing it could hurt the bloc.

History

Historical Context

After Yitzhak Rabin’s 1995 assassination, Israel held its first direct prime-minister election on 29 May 1996, where Likud’s Benjamin Netanyahu won with 55 % turnout and Labor received 45 % of votes. The resulting fragile coalition foreshadowed the 110-0 Knesset vote in May 2026 to dissolve the 25th Knesset after another coalition collapse, highlighting Israel’s chronic coalition instability.

1 of 2

Story summary

110-0 reading to dissolve the 25th Knesset was approved on May 20, 2026 after the coalition failed to pass an exemption law for yeshiva students.
The bill now goes to the Knesset House Committee, which must set an election date between 90 days after approval and October 27.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, absent from the vote, urged the parties not to push a September election, fearing it could hurt the bloc.

1 / 2