Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition has survived an opposition-backed effort to dissolve parliament, as lawmakers rejected a bill that could have paved the way for snap elections, AFP reports.

The opposition had introduced the bill, hoping to force elections with the help of ultra-Orthodox parties angry at Netanyahu over the contentious issue of conscription for deeply religious Jews.

Local media reported yesterday morning however, that most ultra-Orthodox lawmakers ultimately agreed not to support the proposal to dissolve the government.

After their failed vote, the opposition will now have to wait six months to submit another bill.

Opposition faction leaders had said Wednesday that their decision to bring the bill to the Knesset for a vote was “made unanimously and is binding on all factions”.

They added that all opposition parties would freeze their lawmaking activities to focus on “the overthrow of the government”.