Knesset Fixes July 18 Election Recess After 62-0 Funding Vote

Israel's Knesset approved the election-funding amendment 62-0 early Friday, resolving a last-minute dispute and fixing the election recess to begin July 18. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri had initially refused to support the bill unless opposition parties also backed it, while they said the coalition should supply the required 61 votes. The measure raises election-funding advances from 70% to 80% of a funding unit per lawmaker and improves advance financing for new lists. Without the enacted date, regular Knesset work could have continued until July 24, 90 days before the October 27 election.