The Knesset House Committee approved today for the coalition to present tomorrow for vote a proposal for dissolving the parliament. Thus, a preliminary hearing is expected to take place June 22. If approved, and after approval by the Knesset’s Judicial Committee, second and third hearings will take place next week, either on Monday and Wednesday, for the bill to be definitively adopted.

Once the bill is adopted, the Knesset will be dispersed and cease to vote on private bills until new elections take place. The government will continue to function as a transition Cabinet, which means it should not nominate senior officials unless it is an emergency. This raises the question of the nomination of the next IDF chief of staff. Also, the failure of extending regulations implementing Israeli criminal law on West Bank settlements was one of the issues cited by Bennett as a reason for his decision. With the Knesset dispersed before the regulations expire, they would be extended automatically, without a Knesset vote.

After the Knesset is dispersed, Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will assume the role of prime minister, while incumbent Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will take over the title of alternate prime minister. Lapid will head the government through the transition period until the elections.

Israeli law stipulates a period of at least 90 days between the adoption of the law and for new elections to be held. It now seems that elections could be held either Oct. 25 or Nov. 1, after the Jewish holiday period, but the date would be officially fixed after the vote next week and in consultation with the country’s Central Election Committee.