Israeli Knesset votes to disband ahead of early polls

By Ali Semerci </p> <p>JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel’s parliament voted late Wednesday to dissolve itself ahead of early elections on April 9. </p> <p>According to local daily Yedioth Ahronoth, 102 votes were cast in the Knesset in favor of the dissolution bill against two dissenting ballots. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.