Israel holds general election on Oct. 25

 The two co-prime ministers, Naftali Bennett, who is first to hold the post, and Yair Lapid, who was due to take over next year, on Monday set Oct. 25 for a snap general election. The decision landed on the political scene as a big surprise amidst a crisis of defections under which the coalition alliance among eight parties was crumbling while celebrating its first year in office, losing its Knesset majority and failing in the polls.

In the months up to voting, Bennett will move over for Lapid to take the premiership and serve as alternate PM with responsibility for the Iran file.
The leading opposition party Likud led by Binyamin Netanyahu will hold a leadership primary before the general election, as will a coalition member party, Labor.