EJP

Israel: Knesset approves motion to disperse

Yossi Lempkowicz

Israeli Kahol Lavan (Blue and White) political alliance leader Benny Gantz (C-L) walks during a session of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on December 11, 2019. - Israel's parliament was rushing through a bill to call a third general election in a year, prolonging a political crisis and fuelling deep dissatisfaction with politicians. A deal to avert a new vote must be reached before 11:59 pm (2159 GMT), but unity government talks between rightwing premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his centrist rival Benny Gantz broke down. The Knesset passed in the morning a preliminary reading of a bill to dissolve itself, setting a new election for March 2. (Photo by Gali TIBBON / AFP)

The bill was put forth by MK Yariv Lavin of Likud, who declared: “A year ago, the worst government in Israel’s history was sworn in.”

By JNS

The 24th Israeli Knesset approved in a preliminary reading of a motion on Wednesday to dissolve itself, with 110 Knesset members voting in favor and none against.

The motion has now moved to the Knesset Committee, which is headed by Knesset Member Nir Orbach, for further processing.

The motion was put forward by Knesset Member Yariv Lavin of the Likud Party. In remarks after the passing of the motion, Lavin said: “A year ago, the worst government in Israel’s history was sworn in, a government founded on the basis of blind hate and unprecedented misappropriation of the voter’s trust.”

Meanwhile, Knesset members from the coalition have declared their intention to try to place a bill proposal for a first reading later on Wednesday, mandating that a politician who has been charged with criminal offenses cannot run for the office of prime minister.

In a tweet, however, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett noted that he would vote against the proposal, saying that “the right to vote and to be elected is holy, and it is the essence of democracy. Certainly, on the eve of elections, there should be no effort to change the rules of the game, but rather, allow the voters to decide at the ballot.”

On June 20, Bennett and Alternate Prime Minister and current Foreign Minister Yair Lapid agreed to disband the current Knesset and head to new elections.

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