A week after failing tobring the 'Mofaz bill' toa vote, and at a special recess session, the House voted in favor of the bill, which enables seven faction members to split off and join a different faction. The motion was carried 60 to 43.
The Kadima party,which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strives to splinter with the new law, was quick to comment on the newly approved bill. "The Likud's partitioning bill has passed, carrying with it the message that Netanyahu is a weak prime minister required to threaten his ministers, buy the trust of colleagues with public funds – all in an effort to maintain political survival," a Kadima source stated.
The law may be named after Knesset MemberShaul Mofaz ,but according to his statements last week it appears he does not intend on acting on it anytime soon. "Mr. prime minister, I wish to remind you that Israel is a democratic country. Sir does not live in Cuba and Israeli citizens are not citizens of North Korea," he stated before the Knesset plenum.
"I am trying to understand how a person such as yourself, intelligent, well read, who studied in a country which sanctifies the values of democracy, allows himself to propose a vote on such a bill. I have no answer. Perhaps it is because you feel that all is permitted to you. Perhaps it is because you've reached the conclusion that you must survive at any cost," Mofaz added.
Last Wednesday the opposition extended the debate on the 'Mofaz bill' until the beginning of recess and therefore it was not brought for a vote. The Israel Land Administration reform billalso passed Monday in second and third reading, after the vote was postponed two weeks ago when the coalition realized it lacked a majority. Netanyahu had threatened that he shall fire ministers and MKs who will fail to support the reform.