Netanyahu Wins, Knesset Dissolved

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Monday submitted a bill to dissolve the 18th Knesset and call for early elections, which was passed by the House Committee, in a vote of 13 to 4. The move was designed to undermine Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's attempt to promote his bill calling for drafting Haredi citizens.

On Sunday, Lieberman's faction chairman MK Robert Ilatov turned to Coalition Chairman Ze'ev Elkin asking to push the dissolution of the Knesset to next week, so he would be able to go through at least the first official reading of the "Draft for Everyone" bill, but was refused.

Approval of the bill to dissolve the Knesset decision is separate from the decision to declare an election recess, which is the purview of Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin. Rivlin believes that the Knesset should get its election break as soon as possible, by Wednesday at the latest.

While the Knesset is preparing to be dispersed, a new Knesset member, Kadima's Yuval Zellner, will be sworn in, replacing Tzipi Livni who resigned.

A normal Knesset term is four years. The 3rd Knesset served for 4 years and 4 months, followed by the 4th Knesset which served for only 1 year and 9 months.