Opposition members slam Netanyahu as controversial bills go to vote
Yesh Atid's Yair Lapid, Zionist Union's Avi Gabbay and Meretz's Tamar Zandberg accuse Netanyahu at opening of Knesset's summer session of dividing the nation by instigating conflicts and 'sparking disputes about everything that unites us as a nation, while being suspected of bribery.
"Netanyahu doesn’t want a unified nation. The more we fight with one another, the more we hate one another, it's better for him," Lapid charged.
"He wasn't always like that, something has happened to him. It's not the Netanyahu we used to know," Lapid went on to say.
"This coalition, this government and its prime minister are busy with instigating conflicts, fighting and sparking disputes about everything that unites us as a nation. They have not been working for Israel's citizens for quite some time now, they have been working only for their own benefit."
"While they are corrupting, the Yesh Atid party will continue leading the fight against corruption in the State of Israel," he concluded.
Lapid mentioned the override power bill and stated his party is completely against it. "It's an attack on the rule of law in Israel which joins the attack being made on the police and the general attack on the courts."
"We'll stand firm in our fight against the attack on the rule of law in Israel," he added.
The Zionist Union's faction meeting took place earlier Monday. Party leader Avi Gabbay said the Knesset's summer session might be the most important one in the history of the State of Israel. "This session will determine whether we'll continue to exist as a democratic country or we'll become a pseudo democracy like Turkey."
"This session clearly emphasizes the differences between the Zionist Union that believes in equality, in the values of the Declaration of Independence, in the superiority of basic rights and in peace with the Palestinians and separation from them, and between a party that is willing to abandon all of its values in order to survive and be in power," he added.
In reference to the override power bill the coalition is trying to get approved, Gabbay said that if this bill goes through, Israelis' lives would change completely. "We could be arrested for a Facebook post—it will be a reflection of the majority's tyranny," he said.
"We'll fight against every bill that jeopardizes democracy, it doesn't matter if it's 61 mandates. Basic Laws can't be bypassed by new legislation," Gabbay added.
"Our fight will continue in and outside the Knesset, in the same way we demonstrated in front the High Court of Justice 10 days ago," Gabbay concluded.
Meretz leader Tamar Zandberg made her first speech since being elected. "Today we convene for a session that shouldn't have taken place. We should have been in the midst or at the end of an election campaign," Zandberg said.
Meretz leader Tamar Zandberg made her first speech since being elected. "Today we convene for a session that shouldn't have taken place. We should have been in the midst or at the end of an election campaign," Zandberg said.
"A lot of bad tidings are expected to rear their ugly heads during this summer session, including the Nationality Bill, the override power bill meant to paralyze the High Court and make a constitutional revolution in Israel, while the man who is leading it is suspected of bribery," she went on to say.
"Our role is to fight for what the public needs and wants," Zandberg concluded.
