Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Jul 12: Israel will hold general elections on October 27, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking a seventh term in office, the country's Parliament (Knesset) announced on Sunday.

The election will mark the first time since 1988 that Israel has gone to the polls after the Knesset completed its full four-year term.

The announcement was made by Knesset House Committee Chairman and Likud lawmaker Ofir Katz, who said the current Parliament would complete its full tenure on July 17.

Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik said the ruling coalition had no plans to dissolve Parliament before the completion of its term, making it unnecessary to introduce a dissolution bill.

Israel's 120-member Knesset requires a party or coalition to secure at least 61 seats to form the government.

Netanyahu currently heads a five-party right-wing coalition comprising Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit.

Having already served six terms as prime minister, Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving premier and is aiming for a seventh term.

However, recent opinion polls indicate that the ruling coalition could fall short of a parliamentary majority. A survey published by The Economist projected the coalition to win around 54 seats, while opposition parties together could secure 65 seats.

The poll estimated that Likud would emerge as the single largest party with 25 seats, followed by Shas with nine, United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit with eight each, and Religious Zionism with five seats.

Despite the projections, coalition leaders expressed confidence about retaining power.

"Ultimately, despite everything that was said, this Knesset is completing its full term, something that has not happened for more than 40 years," Ofir Katz was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have intensified calls for Netanyahu's resignation, criticising his government's handling of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and expressing confidence that voters will elect a new government in the upcoming polls.