Process of dispersing Israel's Knesset set to start Wednesday
The government is now trying to expedite the disbanding of the Knesset and conclude the process within a week to avoid a situation in which the opposition could establish an alternative Cabinet.
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.
