While still unofficial, it appears national elections will be held on Tuesday, 17 Elul 5772 (September 4th). The Knesset will most likely vote to dissolve itself next week, a vote that will bring the current Knesset to an end and officially launch the campaign for upcoming general elections.

In the interest of time, when the bill to dissolve the Knesset next week is put forward the customary 45-day waiting time will be waived to permit an immediate vote. It is likely the private bill will be voted upon and completed this coming Wednesday, 17 Iyar 5772, exactly four months before Election Day. Since it is a private bill it requires four readings and a simple 61 vote majority.

While some parties preferred elections after the yomim tovim, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is not about to waste time, well-aware of his commanding lead over other candidates for the premiership slot. According to the latest Haaretz poll, the prime minister enjoys 48% of the vote, more than the other candidates combined. His closest competitor is Labor Party leader Shelly Yacimovich with 15%, followed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and lastly, Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz.

Therefore, it is in the interest of the Likud Party to expedite the process since polls estimate Likud will emerge following elections as the largest party with a minimum of 30 seats.

If the bill to dissolve the Knesset is passed next week as expected, Speaker Reuven Rivlin will then announce the closing of the summer session, about a week into the session, and the nation’s lawmakers will then busy themselves with election campaigning.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)