Netanyahu instructs advisers to prepare for possible early vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed close advisers to prepare for the possibility that the Knesset could dissolve in the near future, potentially triggering early elections for the 26th Knesset around four months ahead of schedule, Ynet reported on December 24.

Israel’s next national election is officially set for October 27, 2026. However, Netanyahu has asked aides to prepare contingency plans for elections being brought forward, possibly to June, and has instructed that a campaign team be assembled for his Likud party. Under such a scenario, Likud would need to hold party primaries within a matter of months to determine its candidate list.

Despite these preparations, Netanyahu has publicly insisted that his 37th government will complete its term. Senior ministers who have spoken with him in recent days say he has consistently told them that the coalition will pass the next state budget and that elections will be held on schedule. In private discussions, Netanyahu has also expressed confidence that controversial legislation granting exemptions from mandatory military service to ultra-Orthodox men will pass.

At the same time, political sources say Netanyahu has acknowledged in closer consultations that the situation could deteriorate rapidly. He has therefore instructed his inner circle to prepare for early dissolution of the Knesset if the coalition fails to pass either the draft law or the state budget.

A senior government official said Netanyahu is publicly projecting stability to prevent erosion of coalition discipline. “He tells everyone that elections will be held on time because he does not want a sense that the government is at the end of its rope,” the official said, adding that while Netanyahu wants to serve out the full term, Likud is already preparing for the possibility of early elections.

Netanyahu is weighing campaign options that would largely rely on his existing advisers, with additional consultants expected to join if a campaign is launched.

Meanwhile, ministers are publicly echoing Netanyahu’s message while advancing policies that appear geared toward a potential campaign. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has pushed forward dairy market reforms and changes to taxation on overseas purchases, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has promoted legislation introducing the death penalty for terrorists, backed by an aggressive public campaign.

The political uncertainty is driven primarily by escalating tensions with ultra-Orthodox coalition partners over the military draft law, as well as growing unease within Likud itself, where some lawmakers oppose the current exemption proposal being debated in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee.

On December 23, the coalition was forced to remove legislation from the parliamentary agenda after ultra-Orthodox parties again made clear they would not support it.

Political officials said the impasse has worsened amid reports of arrests of ultra-Orthodox youths accused of draft evasion, increasing pressure within the coalition. While none of the coalition partners favour early elections, officials warned that continued deadlock could ultimately make dissolution of the Knesset unavoidable.

By Tamilla Hasanova