JERUSALEM: Israel moved closer on Wednesday to a snap election after lawmakers gave an initial nod to dissolve parliament, with opinion polls showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lose the first national vote since the 2023 Hamas attacks. Lawmakers voted almost unanimously for an early ballot in a preliminary reading of a bill to disband the 120-seat Knesset. If it receives final approval, a process that could take weeks, Israel could hold an election several weeks ahead of an October 27 deadline.

Israeli opposition parties on Monday urged lawmakers to back a bill to dissolve the Knesset, with the proposal expected to face a preliminary vote next...

Die Knesset entscheidet am Mittwoch voraussichtlich über ein Gesetz zur eigenen Auflösung. Auslöser der Krise ist der Streit um die Wehrpflicht für Ultraorthodoxe.