Likud denies report Netanyahu is preparing for early elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party denies that it is preparing for early elections, after the Ynet news site reports, citing an anonymous senior government official, that the premier instructed his party “to prepare for the dissolution of the Knesset.”

“The news about the intention to bring the election date forward is complete fake news. We will pass the state budget and the conscription law, the government will serve its term, and the elections will be held on time” in October 2026, a Likud spokesman says in a statement.

Ynet cites the senior government official as saying that “in practice, Likud is already preparing for a situation in which the Knesset will be forced to dissolve soon,” adding that Netanyahu has asked to form a team to lead the party’s upcoming campaign.

Netanyahu is reportedly concerned regarding both the 2026 state budget, whose failure to pass would automatically bring down the government, and his ability to pass a Haredi draft exemption bill demanded by the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties.

Both Haredi parties recently denied a recent report by national broadcaster Kan that they threatened to dissolve the Knesset unless progress on the bill was speeded up.