The reason behind the transfer of functions and the dissolution of parliament is still unclear, but Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition government has lost its majority in parliament since the beginning of April. That happened when a party member of Bennett, Idit Silman, withdrew her support for the party and the government. Bennett was left with 60 of the 120 seats in parliament.
Israeli media immediately speculated that Bennett would quickly push for new elections. After all, the chance that the opposition led by ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could gain a majority was considered small. Bennett’s current governing coalition consists of radical right-wing nationalists, center parties, left-wing parties and Arabs.