Overview
- The Knesset voted to dissolve itself in an overnight session that passed the dissolution measure and confirmed October 27 as the election date, with the final votes cast late Friday.
- In the final hours the governing coalition pushed through a package of controversial laws, including a Basic Law elevating Torah study, a temporary freeze on arrests of draft evaders, and a Communications Law that shifts broadcast oversight toward government control.
- Recent polling, led by a Channel 13 survey, shows former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party surging into the low‑20s and a Jewish opposition bloc that could reach about 61 seats without Arab parties, making him the main challenger to Netanyahu.
- Signs of strain in Likud deepened during the rush to adjourn: MK Dan Illouz announced he was leaving the party over the draft‑exemption bills and coalition leaders had to scramble to find absent lawmakers to secure the dissolution vote.
- The final week’s moves are likely to prompt court challenges, deepen public anger among conscripts and reservists who say the army is short of manpower, and make coalition bargaining and international relations central issues in the campaign.