Without a moment's hesitation, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein adjourned the Knesset plenum Wednesday without any parliamentary work having been accomplished.
Acting on political interests of a faction in the minority, that was unwilling to accept the results of the March 2 elections, the speaker closed- down parliament in a manner never- before seen in Israel and perhaps beyond.
The Knesset has always been open for business no matter what the crisis, be it war or terror but now it was adjourned, after a total of 4 minutes, in two separate sessions.
The schedule posted for the parliamentary day remained fairly light considering the immense challenges posed by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, but no discussion was to be had on the steps being taken and the ramifications to the economy or society at large.
Hiding behind an engineered dispute, Likud has managed to shut down any Knesset activity having lost their majority to the opposing camp.
The Speaker had plenty of options to keep the plenum open and to move committee elections forward, including the Finance and Foreign Affairs & Defense committees as well as other oversight responsibilities that are part and parcel of the Knesset's job.
It appears the public can wait because if Likud does not have the majority on its side, it will just lock-up parliament.
Vast amounts of money had been spent over the past few years to improve the opinion Israelis have of their representatives. Edelstein himself was first to implore his members to conduct themselves honorably to that end.
But his recent conduct undermines his earlier efforts and has proven him and his political party to be disrespectful of the law and the parliament.
As the clock is ticking on the 28 days Blue & White leader Benny Gantz was given to secure a coalition government, Likud sees its mission now to foil any legislation that will block Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from running for his high office once again.
Blue & White have the Knesset majority needed to legislate laws that state anyone under criminal indictment can not be elected Prime Minister.
Netanyahu is facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, but Justice Minister and close ally Amir Ohana has already caused a four-month postponement of the trial, using measures that have raised concern among some Israelis.
Meanwhile, the Blue & White party failed to react to the maneuvers of Edelstein and the Likud in a manner that would have been understood by the public. They could have staged a sit-in or appealed immediately to the supreme court.
Seeing the Knesset ruled by a minority to such a degree is a political first for this county.