Heads of the opposition factions: The bill to dissolve the Knesset will be brought to a vote

Heads of the opposition factions announced their decision to bring the bill to dissolve the Knesset to a vote in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday. According to the statement, the decision was unanimous and binding for all factions.

The statement also read, “In addition, in coordination among all the factions, it was decided to remove opposition queries and legislation from the agenda – to focus all efforts on one goal: bringing down the government.” Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf said on Wednesday, “Under the directive of the great rabbis of Israel, we will vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset.”

Meanwhile, a meeting is taking place in the Knesset between Legal Advisor Sagit Afik and coalition members in an attempt to formulate an agreed-upon version of the Draft Law.

The opposition had debated whether to submit the proposal, as a failed preliminary vote would prevent it from being reintroduced for another six months. The Yisrael Beitenu party told Kan News that it is determined to bring the bill to a vote, even if the Shas party does not support it.

Senior members of the faction said they “won’t pull Netanyahu’s chestnuts out of the fire” and that even a week's delay in the vote would mean the Knesset will not be dissolved during the summer session. The coalition is expected to flood the agenda with numerous bills to delay the vote on dissolving the Knesset as much as possible.

Knesset Member Eli Dallal said that everyone must be drafted. “It is not right at this time to go to elections. A new draft law is unnecessary; the existing law is sufficient.” Speaking with Esti Perez Ben Ami on Kan Reshet Bet Radio, Dallal added, “I trust Yuli Edelstein. Everyone must be drafted without exception, leaving only a small group of Torah scholars. I told this to the Prime Minister as well.”

Regarding the war, Dallal said, “We are not managing this war correctly. We need a short war and to bring the hostages back immediately.”

Last night, another attempt was made to reach a version of the Draft Law acceptable to all parties, with involvement from legal advisor Afik and Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz. According to coalition sources, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Yuli Edelstein has shown a willingness to reach an agreed version. Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs asked the ultra-Orthodox parties to postpone the vote on dissolving the Knesset, stating that it would be “irreversible.”

On Kan News last night, Michael Shemesh reported that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son, Yair Netanyahu, is working to remove Edelstein from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, stating, “He wants to bring down the government.”

As mentioned, the ultra-Orthodox parties are expected to support the bill. The Council of Torah Sages of Agudat Yisrael decided last Thursday to support the dissolution of the Knesset. In addition, Rabbi Hirsch met on Monday with Degel HaTorah leader Rabbi Landau. No new decision was made following the meeting, so the United Torah Judaism party is expected to unanimously support the dissolution of the Knesset.