Mofaz's request to oust Kadima MKs denied

Knesset House Committee holds heated debate on motion to declare four MKs who negotiated deal with Likud as secessionists

Moran Azulay|Published: 07.24.12 , 15:55

The Knesset House Committee rejected a request by Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz to effectively oust four Kadima Knesset members who negotiated a deal with the Likud and declare them "secessionists" following a lengthy and at times heated debate.

The four MKs are Arie Bibi, Avraham Duan, Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich and Otniel Schneller. The Knesset's legal adviser said there was no legal basis to support such a motion.

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On Sunday, it was reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered key ministerial positions to Kadima MKs who showed interest in breaking off from their party and joining the government.

In exchange for the posts, Netanyahu reportedly asked the MKs to back his draft proposal and the 2013 State Budget. MK Arie Bibi was to be appointed deputy internal security minister, MK Shamalov-Berkovich was to serve as deputy minister of communications and MK Duan accepted Netanyahu's offer to join the government as deputy minister of social affairs.

Mks Meir Sheetrit and Zeev Elkin stated during the debate that they themselves had been part of several attempts to break away from Kadima in the past year.

The Knesset's legal adviser, Eyal Inon said that a division was legitimate under the law and does not warrant secession. "Our position is that the case does not justify a declaration of the MKs as secessionists," he said.

Nevertheless, he added: "The MKs involved aren't entirely immune. If they want to return to the faction they must adhere (to its policies). If they continue to act against the faction's decisions they may find themselves in another similar discussion with more substantiated evidence for a declaration of secession."

MK Arie Bibi said, "There was intent, but there was no act and this whole meeting is unnecessary. I never signed a deal to become a deputy minister."