Israeli Knesset votes to disband ahead of early polls

By Ali Semerci

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel’s parliament voted late Wednesday to dissolve itself ahead of early elections on April 9.

According to local daily Yedioth Ahronoth, 102 votes were cast in the Knesset in favor of the dissolution bill against two dissenting ballots.

On Monday, the partners of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party decided to call for snap polls in April.

The decision came after the United Torah Judaism party vowed to withdraw from the coalition if the Knesset voted in favor of a compulsory military service bill targeting ultra-Orthodox men.

Army service is mandatory for all Israeli citizens -- three years for men and two years for women -- with the exception of members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews account for roughly 10 percent of Israel's population. They tend to live in closed communities and adhere to strict interpretations of Jewish religious law.