Israel will likely either have new elections or a new prime minister


With just hours to go before a set deadline, it's looking less and less likely Israel will form a new government. That means Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will either be replaced or, if he gets his way, Israel will head toward new elections in September.
Netanyahu, who faces a possible indictment on corruption charges, was recently re-elected to the post after tightly contested elections in April, but he has struggled to form a coalition government. The prime minister reportedly needs Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties to reach an agreement with ex-defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, a secular right-winger, over a military draft bill, which would increase the number of ultra-orthodox Jewish men conscripted into the army. The impasse has held up the formation of a coalition, and Haaretz reports both sides rejected Netanyahu's last-ditch effort to forge a deal, which means — barring a truly last-minute change of opinion — the government will not to come fruition.
Normally, Netanyahu's failure to form a government would allow Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin, to select a different lawmaker to complete the task. But Netanyahu introduced a new bill to prevent that from happening. Instead, the law would dissolve the Knesset — Israel's national legislature — and eventually lead to new elections. Lawmakers have begun debating the bill with a vote expected to occur shortly.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Will online age checks doom internet freedom?
Today's Big Question Or do they protect children from harm?
-
At least 800 dead in Afghanistan earthquake
speed read A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates