London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Feb 16, 2026

Israel faces fifth election in four years after parliament votes to dissolve itself

Israel faces fifth election in four years after parliament votes to dissolve itself

Ex-talk show host Yair Lapid has been appointed caretaker PM after Naftali Bennett stepped down following the collapse of Israel's coalition government - which could pave the way for fallen leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, to return to power.

Israel's parliament has voted to dissolve itself, sparking the country's fifth election in less than four years.

Former talk show host Yair Lapid, currently foreign minister, will take control of the Knesset from Naftali Bennett - Israel's shortest-serving prime minister - from just after midnight on Friday.

The government, a coalition of ideologically diverse parties including an Arab faction, collapsed just over a year after it was formed in a historic move that unseated long-term leader Benjamin Netanyahu from power after 12 years.

The motion to dissolve parliament passed with 92 in favour and none opposed, after days of disputes over a new election date.

Israel will choose its new leader when the vote is held on 1 November, it has now been decided.

Mr Lapid, 58, will become the 14th person to hold office in Jerusalem until a new leader is officially announced.

He was an architect of the outgoing coalition government - a collective of eight parties across the political spectrum which tried but failed to find common ground following a prolonged period of gridlock.

Four deadlocked elections in the past three years have been described as referendums on Mr Netanyahu's fitness to serve while facing corruption charges.

But the collapse of the Israeli government could see a possible return to power for the former leader, who remains a significant figure in Israeli politics.

Benjamin Netanyahu speaks ahead of the vote on a bill to dissolve parliament.


Mr Netanyahu, 72, who is accused of accepting bribes, fraud, and breach of trust, has denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Lapid, who leads a centre-left party, is expected to campaign as caretaker PM to keep the job as the main alternative to Mr Netanyahu.

His popularity is expected to be bolstered when US President Joe Biden visits Israel next week.

However, polls conducted by Israel media show Mr Netanyahu and his allies are gaining momentum - but it is unclear whether they would win enough votes to form a 61-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset.

Foreign minister Yair Lapid will assume the role of acting PM.


But if no party succeeds in achieving a majority, the country will face a fresh election.

Mr Bennett, 50, has ruled himself out of the race, revealing how he would be taking a hiatus from politics.

He tweeted a picture of himself to his 502,000 followers on Thursday morning, along with a caption in Hebrew translating as "thanks", together with a heart and Israeli flag emoji.

Under his leadership, the government failed to renew an emergency law preserving the special legal status of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The legislation is considered essential for many Israelis.

Since he was ousted last year, Mr Netanyahu has spent his time as opposition leader actively undermining the coalition and encouraging opposition parties to vote against government bills, culminating in the defeat of the West Bank legislation.

Addressing parliament, the former Israeli PM said: "They promised change, they spoke about healing, they tried an experiment, and the experiment failed.

"We are the only alternative: a strong, stable, responsible nationalist government."

Leader of the Islamist Ra'am faction, Mansour Abbas, joined the coalition to secure better funding for Israel's Arab minority - which accounts for 20% of the population.

Israel's Arab citizens battle widespread discrimination due to their close ties with and support for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Comments

Anna 4 year ago
Might be easier to dissolve Israel and give it back to the rightful owners

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK’s Top Prosecutor Says ‘No One Is Above the Law’ as Police Review Claims Against Ex-Prince Andrew
Businessman Adam Brooks weighs in on the reports that the US is set to help Hamit Coskun flee the UK, over free speech concerns
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Releases 3.5 Million Pages of Jeffrey Epstein Case Files
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Comment on European allies report blaming Russia for killing late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny using toxin from poison dart frogs
Eighty-Year-Old Lottery Winner Sentenced to 16.5 Years for Drug Trafficking
UK Quran Burner May Receive Asylum in the US Amid Legal Challenges
Rubio Calls for Sweeping U.N. Reform, Saying It Has Failed to End Wars in Gaza and Ukraine
10,000 Condoms Distributed at Winter Olympics 2026 Athlete Village Depleted Within 72 Hours
Poland's President Advocates for Evaluating Independent Nuclear Weapons Development
Prince William Meets Saudi Crown Prince as Epstein-Andrew Fallout Casts Shadow
Starmer Calls for Renewed ‘Hard Power’ Investment at European Security Summit
UK Police Establish National Taskforce to Handle Domestic Epstein-Linked Allegations
UK Court Rules Ban on Palestine Action Unlawful in Major Free Speech Test
UK Faces Prospect of Net Migration Turning Negative as Economic Impact Looms
Mayor of Serdobsk in Russia’s Penza Region Resigns After Housing Certificates Granted to Migrant Family Trigger Public Outcry
Pentagon Reviews Anthropic Partnership After Claude AI Reportedly Used in Operation Targeting Nicolás Maduro
President Donald Trump and Hip-Hop’s Political Realignment: Pardons, Public Endorsements, and the Struggle Over Cultural Influence
China’s EV Makers Face Mandatory Return to Physical Buttons and Door Handles in Driver-Distraction Safety Overhaul
Goldman Sachs and DP World Executive Resignations: Elite-Reputation Risk and Corporate Governance Fallout From the Epstein Disclosures
‘Amelia’: The UK Government’s Anti-Extremism Game Villain Who Became a Protest Symbol
Peter Mandelson Asked to Testify Before US Congress Over Jeffrey Epstein Links
Walmart's Earnings and UK Economic Data Highlight Upcoming Financial Trends
UK Green Party Considering Proposal to Legalize Heroin for an Inclusive Society
SpaceX's New Vision: Lunar City Takes Precedence Over Mars Colonization
OpenAI and DeepCent Superintelligence Race: Artificial General Intelligence and AI Agents as a National Security Arms Race
Document Suggests Prince Andrew Shared UK Briefing on Afghan Investment Opportunities with Jeffrey Epstein
We will protect them from the digital Wild West.’ Another country will ban social media for under-16s
McDonald's Shortens Breakfast Hours in Australia Due to Egg Shortage
Heineken announces cut of 6,000 jobs due to declining beer demand
Beijing Brands UK Hong Kong Visa Expansion ‘Despicable and Reprehensible’ After Jimmy Lai Sentencing
Tesco Chief Warns UK Is ‘Sleepwalking’ Toward a Joblessness Crisis
Trump’s ‘Act of Great Stupidity’ Comment on UK Chagos Deal Reverberates Through Diplomacy and Strategy
New U.S. filings say Jeffrey Epstein repaid Les Wexner one hundred million dollars after theft allegation
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledges 2012 visit to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island as lawmakers scrutinise past ties
Helsing and Stark Defence loitering-munition drones and Germany’s race to industrialise battlefield autonomy
UK orders deletion of Courtsdesk court-data archive, reigniting the fight over who controls public justice records
UK Police Review Fresh Claims Involving Prince Andrew as Senior Royals Respond to Epstein Files
Keir Starmer’s Premiership Faces Unprecedented Strain as Epstein Fallout Deepens
Starmer Vows to Stay in Office as UK Government Faces Turmoil After Epstein Fallout
China and UK Signal Tentative Reset with Commitment to Steadier, Professionally Managed Relations
UK Confirms Imminent Increase in ETA Fee to £20 as Entry Rules Tighten
UK Signals Possible Seizure of Russia-Linked ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Escalation of Sanctions Enforcement
Epstein Scandal Piles Unprecedented Pressure on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Leadership
UK’s ‘Most Romantic Village’ Celebrates Valentine’s Day and Explores the Festival’s Rich History
The Implications of Expanding Voting Rights to Non-EU Foreign Residents in France
Ghislaine Maxwell to Testify Before US Congress on February 9
Al.com Acquired by Crypto.com Founder for $70 Million
Apple iPhone Lockdown Mode blocks FBI data access in journalist device seizure
Belgium: Man Charged with Rape After Faking Payment to Sex Worker
KPMG Urges Auditor to Relay AI Cost Savings
×