Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Photo: Gil Yohanan
MK Avigdor Itzchaky
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Olmert fails to curb referendum bill
Olmert's coalition fails him as MKs abstain from voting on controversial bill
Olmert's failing coalition was evident Wednesday, when barely a handful of MKs supported his vote against a bill requiring a referendum before any future territorial concession.
bill, demanding any concession of sovereign Israeli territories must be decided on by referendum. The bill passed its first reading by a majority of 26 MKs.
MK Avigdor Itzchaky (Kadima) former coalition chairman proposed the
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"This wasn't an action taken against Olmert, it was an action taken for the good of the Golan Heights," said MK Itzchaky.
The bill passed its first reading in spite of the government's opposition. Olmert, who voted against the bill, could barely round up 17 MKs to vote with him and most of those were opposition members.
"Again, we see how this coalition exists in name only," said Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar, as Olmert found himself supported by Meretz-Yahad's chairman Yossi Beilin, MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al) and Hadash chairman MK Mohammad Barakeh.
Although Olmert's people tried their best to get the majority needed to defer the bill, Itzchaky's efforts against his party's leader proved more successful.
Two Kadima MKs Zeev Elkin and Marina Solodkin, voted against him alongside members of Labor and the Pensioners Party. Coalition partners Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu, meanwhile, were absent from the vote.
"This is a matter for one's conscience," said MK Yoel Hasson when asked why he was absent form Wednesday's vote. "People should be allowed to vote as they see fit, but since the other ministers and I didn't want to go against the government we opted not to go at all."
