Israeli Knesset votes to dissolve election

• Lawmakers give preliminary approval to dissolve parliament.
• Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comeback is already dominating the campaign.
• Right-wing Likud party and its likely partnered nationalist and ultra-religious parties led polls released on Tuesday but fell short of a governing majority in 120-seat Knesset.

Israel drew closer to its fifth election in less than four years on Wednesday as lawmakers gave preliminary approval to dissolve parliament, with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comeback already dominating the campaign.

In a preliminary reading of a law that will be finalised next week, the Knesset agreed to break up. After that, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will be replaced as leader of an interim government by the centrist Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

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Netanyahu, who is currently the leader of the Israeli opposition, was thrilled when Bennett and Lapid decided to get rid of what he called the worst government in Israel’s history. He wanted to beat his own record and win a sixth term.

Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party and its likely partnered nationalist and ultra-religious parties led four polls released on Tuesday but fell short of a governing majority in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset.

Read more: Lapid will take over as next prime minister in Israel election