Right wary of PM's 'cold feet' on bills

Public, political uproar over series of rightist bills has Right worried that Netanyahu may avoid supporting future legislation for fear of political price

Attila Somfalvi |Published: 07.14.11 , 07:56

The Right is concerned that the public outrage over the latest series of rightist bills brought before the Knesset will prompt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw his support of them, as well as avoid backing future legislation, for fear it may carry a political price in the future.

The last few weeks have seen various bills debated and voted on, most notably the highly controversial boycott law, a bill banning foreign contribution to leftist organizations and a bill suggesting giving the Knesset veto power over Supreme Court nominations.

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Netanyahu has already made sure to distance himself from the "judges veto bill," stirring concerns in the Right that he may do the same in regards to future legislation proposals.

Yisrael Beiteinu's bill on restricting foreign financing for leftists groups is due to see its second and third readings next week, and related bills – such as restricting donations to the Left from official bodies such as the UN and EU, and imposing a 45% tax on foreign donation – are in the works as well.

Sources familiar with the bills' drafting process told Ynet Thursday that given the public furor the boycott law and the "judges veto bill" have met, there is an ambiguity as to the current drafts' future.

The sources added that while the Prime Minister's Office has yet to exert any pressure to see the bills shelved, such a request is likely imminent.

Still, with the rocky political relationship between the Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu, which are both vying for the Right's votes, Yisrael Beiteinu is expected to exert heavy pressure on the prime minister not to nip their controversial legislation in the bud.

Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman is said to be unhappy with the fact that the Likud has taken the proverbial lead in matters of rightist legislation, as he prefers being the Left's lightning rod in Netanyahu's stead.

Lieberman was quoted as saying the he expects the government to support his party's legislation; but it is believed that Netanyahu will not enforce coalitional discipline in the matter.

A free vote is likely to cloud the bills' prospects, and while Lieberman said it is unlikely to bring about a coalition crisis, he will see it as an injury to his faction.