Israeli National Unity Party Led by Benny Gantz Proposes Bill to Dissolve Knesset and Trigger New Elections

Israeli National Unity Party, led by war cabinet member Benny Gantz, proposes bill to dissolve Knesset and trigger new elections

Israel’s National Unity party, headed by war cabinet member Benny Gantz, has put forth a bill to dissolve the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, and call for new elections in the fall.

“This is a continuation of the initiative led by the chairman of the State Camp, Minister Benny Gantz, to hold elections with broad consensus by October, one year after the massacre,” Gantz’s press office stated.

Knesset member Pnina Tamano-Shata submitted the bill on Thursday, emphasizing the need to regain the people’s trust and establish a broad and stable unity government to navigate the challenges in security, the economy, and Israeli society.

The proposed bill will be tabled during the Knesset’s summer session, with a vote scheduled to decide on dissolving parliament in September and holding fresh elections in October.

Currently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a 64-member governing coalition in the 120-seat Knesset. Despite Gantz’s previous strong performance in polls, his favorability has recently declined, as reported by CNN global affairs analyst Barak Ravid.

Gantz has been critical of Netanyahu’s leadership during the conflict in Gaza, threatening to withdraw from the government if a plan to free hostages and eliminate Hamas was not laid out by June 8. The proposed bill sets the stage for potential political shifts in Israel as the country prepares for new elections.