Israel braces for October vote as Netanyahu's coalition ends term

Israel's parliament dissolved early Friday, completing a full four-year term, a rare feat in Israeli politics, last achieved back in 1988.

The dissolution came at the end of a marathon session in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition rushed through a string of controversial bills, including two laws effectively halting the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men in the military, as well as several measures tied to his judicial overhaul, including tighter government control over broadcast media and a weakening of the powers of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

Elections have been set for October 27, the latest possible date allowed by law, meaning the government will have served out its full term. "We are completing a four-year term, we passed nine budgets and hundreds of bills, I thank you for the trust you placed in me," said Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana as he announced the dissolution.

At 76, Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, heads into the campaign in a weakened position. Polls show a groundswell of support for opposition parties, led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and a popular centrist former military chief, as Israel approaches the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks.