Rivlin with Netanyahu. Disagreement
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Orlev. Law for law
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Hasson. 'Coalition has no boundaries'
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Knesset speaker won't back 'Mofaz law'
Rivlin expresses reservations over law aimed at making it easier for Kadima MKs to split from faction, return to Likud
Knesset Speaker MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud)
does not plan to back the "Mofaz law" in an expected Knesset vote Monday. The bill stipulates that splinter groups can leave Knesset factions, and receive funding, if they have constitute one-third or seven Knesset members of the faction.
The Habayit Hayehudi
faction is also making things difficult for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
by threatening not to support the "Mofaz law" unless another law, aimed at guaranteeing the return of former MK Nissan Slomiansky to the Knesset.
It remains unclear whether Rivlin will vote against the bill, or abstain from the vote, but in any event he has no plans to vote in favor of it. The Knesset speaker has recently opposed "governance laws" promoted by the Coalition, and even halted a vote on the same law during a recent Opposition boycott.
Opinion
Attila Somfalvi
Land reform vote fiasco illustrates Netanyahu’s coalition mayhem
The "Slomiansky law", which makes it possible for one minister from each faction to resign from the Knesset in favor of the next person on the faction's list, is now in danger following the Coalition head's threat not to bring it to the Knesset's approval due to Habayit Hayehudi's failure to support a reform in the Israel Land Administration.
Habayit Hayehudi MK Zevulun Orlev told Ynet on Thursday that "if the 'Slomiansky law' will not be brought to the Knesset's approval by the summer break, they should not expect us to support the 'Mofaz law'. Netanyahu must decide whether his agreement with Habayit Hayehudi still stands, and if it does – act accordingly."
'Disregard for Knesset'
The "Mofaz law" is expected to be submitted for its first reading in three days. The Coalition plans to complete the enactment procedures and pass it in the second and third readings as well before the summer hiatus, which is scheduled to being at 2 pm Wednesday.And what is Kadima planning? According to MK Yoel Hasson, the plan to approve the bill "in a hasty manner without a thorough discussion" is "further proof of the Coalition's disregard for the Knesset." This coalition has no boundaries, he adds.
Hasson says Kadima is weighing several options for dealing with the situation. "On the one hand, we are not afraid of the 'Mofaz law', and on the other hand, the rules of the game are being violated here while the game is still being played – and this is what is so serious about this.
"The faction has yet to make a final decision on whether to have a filibuster during the discussions on the bill or just let the government degrade itself and pass the law within a very short time, while trampling democracy and creating a dangerous precedent."
