A bill to dissolve the 21st Knesset and hold an early general election at the end of August passed in a preliminary reading Monday evening.
The vote was 65 in favor of the bill, 43 against, with six abstentions.
To be enacted, the bill will have to pass all the requisite readings by this Wednesday – the extended deadline given to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by President Reuven Rivlin to form a governing coalition.
Meanwhile, in a last-ditch attempt to try and head off an early general election, Habayit Hayehudi chairman Rafi Peretz met with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman Monday afternoon and arranged for him to meet with Netanyahu. The two were sitting down while their fellow MKs voted to dissolve the Knesset. According to a source in the Likud, the meeting ended without any breakthrough.
Netanyahu was expected to address the Knesset plenum and make an announcement at 8 p.m.
The flurry of activity came after Netanyahu met with faction leaders earlier Monday to discuss a date for a new Knesset election. The faction leaders and the prime minister reportedly agreed on a date toward the end of August.
Earlier Monday, MK Miki Zohar presented the Knesset Secretary with a bill to dissolve the 21st Knesset and hold a new election.
Lieberman said earlier Monday he was insisting that a bill on haredi conscription authored while he was still serving as defense minister be passed by the Knesset, as planned.
"Anyone can realize this is a stance of principle. That's what the Likud is most afraid of, that people will realize this isn't revenge or anything [like that]. The Likud is trying to create a narrative of personal revenge," Lieberman said.
The Yisrael Beytenu leader also had harsh words for Israel Hayom's coverage of his latest political moves, saying that "Pravda is the days of Stalin was gentler."
