Israel's coalition hanging by a thread

Israel's coalition said it would be submitting a bill next week to dissolve parliament as the country stares at a fifth election in less than four years.

The bill will be submitted in Parliament next week with reports indicating Yair Lapid will take over as interim prime minister until new elections are held.

Bennett said: "I stand here with my friend Yair Lapid, who will soon take over as prime minister in accordance with an agreement between us."

Israeli reports said elections would be held in October. The latest political development comes even as US President Joe Biden is set to visit Israel next month.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's ruling coalition which had ousted former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost majority in Israel's parliament Knesset after a Yamina party member announced she was pulling out of the coalition.

The eight-party coalition has been under strain since the beginning even as  Bennett claimed his government had boosted economic growth and cut unemployment but he was unable to hold various parties together.

Netanyahu-led opposition had threatened to submit a bill to dissolve parliament however Bennett and Lapid decided to move ahead of the former prime minister.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz expressed his disappointment over the political development even as Lapid praised Bennett's achievement.