After weeks of speculation, incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has announced that the government will submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset next week, ending Israel’s 36th government, provided it passes. Mr Bennett’s partner in the coalition, incumbent Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, will take over as caretaker Prime Minister for at least 90 days. Given the religious holidays, elections are likely to take place sometime in October, the fifth in three years. Image: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has announced that the government will submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset. Photo: AP The current coalition, just one year old, has been in turmoil for weeks after losing its majority in the Knesset to apostates. He took power in June 2021, ending Mr. Netanyahu’s 12 years in power. He had gradually lost power and a vote of no confidence was expected, filed by opposition parties this week, forcing Mr Bennett and Mr Lapid to jump before they were pressured.

More about Benjamin Netanyahu

Mr Lapid, as caretaker Prime Minister, will now welcome US President Joe Biden on a visit to Israel next month. Netanyahu, who has twice served as Israel’s prime minister, has recently been involved in a court case defending allegations of corruption, but remains a strong figure in Israel in politics. Although Israel remains politically divided, Mr. Netanyahu is still popular with a significant portion of the population, but he has fought in previous elections to form decisive coalitions. Image: Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will take over as Prime Minister. Photo: AP He spent much of his year in opposition, actively undermining the coalition government and encouraging opposition parties to vote against government bills, culminating in the defeat of a bill earlier this month, restoring some rights to Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Read more: The Israeli coalition has only one audience The vote against the renewal of this legislation was against Mr. Netanyahu’s policy and was brazenly considered opportunistic – it also alienated part of his support. However, the Bibi-factor will almost certainly dominate the election campaign and what he says and does will determine much of the course in the coming months as Israel prepares to go to the polls again.