Bill to dissolve Israel's Knesset passes 1st reading

JERUSALEM

The Knesset (Israel's parliament) has passed a bill in the first reading to dissolve itself amid a deadlock in talks to form a coalition government following last month's general election.

Proposed by Likud lawmaker Miki Zohar, chairman of the House Committee, the bill was approved in the first ready by 66-44 votes with five abstentions in a session held Monday night.

The bill still needs to be approved in a second and third reading by the 120-member assembly on Wednesday as the deadline for forming the government expires.

The move is an escalation from the Likud to force former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to back down from his demand to pass the so called ultra-orthodox "draft law".

In the event of failing to form a government coalition, the Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is trying to dissolve the Knesset and go to new elections within three months to avoid assigning another candidate, especially from the left camp.

On Monday, Netanyahu vowed to do everything possible to build a right-wing block coalition and avoid going to an early election.

In office for a decade, Netanyahu won a record fifth term in the April 9 polls after his right-wing Likud party won 36 seats in Knesset.

He now has a deadline until May 29 to form a new government.

If he manages to form a new government, Netanyahu will be the longest-serving leader in Israel's history.