Lapid and Shaked
Photo: Noam Moskovich
Lapid: Shaked sacrificing laws for Netanyahu
Yesh Atid leader returns fire against justice minister, saying she is the one 'trampling on the Knesset' for promoting recommendations law at the expense of other laws 'for the sake of one man, the prime minister;' Shaked: 'Running to the HCJ humiliates the opposition.'
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid returned fire against Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) Thursday, accusing her “trampling on the Knesset” by “taking all the laws, and moving them aside and weaving laws to help the prime minister.”
Lapid’s comments, made in an interview with Ynet, came a day after Shaked expressed her disapproval with his threats to appeal to the High Court of Justice (HCJ) if the recommendations law passed its second and third Knesset reading.
“You don’t understand how the Knesset works. After a long discussion like this without any constitutional reason, you are running to the HCJ. You are trampling on the Knesset, and embarrassing everyone who is in here,” Shaked scathed after Lapid made his threat.
Yair Lapid and Ayelet Shaked (Photo: Noam Moskovich)
Lapid also attacked the government in general for focusing on the recommendations law while neglecting bills that directly affect the lives of Israeli citizens.
“Over a year ago I passed the autism bill. They didn’t do anything on the matter. They don’t help the disabled in any way whatsoever. The terror bill, that was intended to fight against terror—they have halted it for two years already,” Lapid complained. “The person who is trampling on the Knesset is the person who enslaves the entire Israeli judicial system for the needs of one person they depend on.”
Those opposed to the bill have expressed deep concern over its influence on the ongoing investigations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is being dragged to the final stages of corruption probes and as police draw final conclusions on whether or not to recommend to the attorney general that he be indicted.
Non-coalition parties continue to oppose the bill even though its latest draft excludes from its remit investigations that have already been opened.
Asked whether he meant that everything was being done purely for Netanyahu’s sake, to prevent the dismantlement of the coalition and keep a lid on opponents, Lapid responded: “So they say. Ask (MK David) Amsalem. Ask Miki Zohar. They will all tell you the same thing—that this law was designed for Netanyahu. They don’t even deny it because they have lost any sense of shame.”
Lapid asserted that "Israeli citizens are under attack, everything that is sacred and valued and which is important to the Israeli citizens and there is total neglect for education and health and security,” he argued. “We are taking every step against this attack.”
Recommendations law passes in Knesset (Photo: Amit Shabi)
After Lapid made good on his word and filed an appeal to the courts on Thursday morning, Shaked continued her assault against the step.
“What annoys me is that first of all Lapid embarrassed the opposition itself. So what is the opposition making all this commotion for?” Shaked said during a speech at s speech in Haifa University.
“There is no constitutional problem and there is no human rights issue. The fact that knesset members have gotten used to losing in parliament despite their fight and immediately run to the HCJ, on this issue it humiliates and tramples on the Knesset,” she reiterated.
“Even MKs from the opposition came and told me I was right. In the eyes of the legislator, going to the HCJ in this situation is intolerable.”
