Three motions of no confidence opened the Knesset's summer session on Monday. The motions, submitted by the Likud, Meretz United Torah Judaism and the National Union-NRP, were rejected by the Knesset.
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his government to honor the people's wish and step down. According to the Likud leader, today's Knesset fails to represent the despair and lack of trust the public feels toward its elected officials.
Minister Ronnie Bar-On replied on behalf of the government, saying that if elections were held now, this would result in national paralysis and "would put a stop to all the vital processes we are all interested in."
Prior to the session, the Labor faction decided to allow its members not to participate in the no-confidence vote and vote in favor of the government. On Sunday, the party's central committee will discuss whether or not to stay in the government.
Meretz leader MK Yossi Beilin revealed to the Knesset plenum that a Kadima minister recently told him that Olmert posed "a national threat to Israel."
"As he (Olmert) is likely to make a hasty political move, he is likely to lead Israel to an unnecessary war," Beilin quoted the Kadima minister as telling him.
Attila Somfalvi contributed to the report
&91;6&93;_a.jpg "Photo: Knesset channel")
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