• Races to pass key laws before Knesset dissolves on July 15• Military exemption bill for ultra-Orthodox, media, attorney general reforms draw fears of power grab• Opposition slams government for prioritising politics over national interest
JERUSALEM: With the Israeli parliament set to dissolve in the coming days, just four months before national elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is racing to pass a series of controversial bills, drawing fierce criticism from the opposition.
Seven bills are currently on the agenda of the Knesset, Israel’s 120-seat parliament, each a priority for parties in Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.
By striking these political bargains, Netanyahu hopes to shore up his alliances and head into the late October election from a position of strength, despite opinion polls suggesting he might struggle to return to office.
The veteran prime minister faces public anger over failures that led to Hamas’ unprecedented Oct 7, 2023, attack, which triggered the war in Gaza.
