Naftali Bennett’s government dissolves, paving the way for potential Netanyahu return.

Israel is set for its fifth general election in just three years after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s fragile coalition government announced plans to dissolve the Knesset. The decision follows a period of instability within Bennett’s unwieldy coalition, which included eight ideologically diverse parties. The government revealed on Monday night that efforts to stabilize the coalition had failed, and a bill to dissolve parliament will be presented next week.

If the bill passes, elections will be triggered, and foreign minister Yair Lapid will assume the role of interim prime minister as previously agreed upon in a coalition arrangement. While Bennett expressed regret over the dissolution, he emphasized that the government’s actions were aimed at benefiting the country, despite the challenges it faced in uniting such a diverse political group.