Knesset Dissolution Bill Passes Initial Reading

Lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the initial bill to dissolving the Knesset on Wednesday, 110-0.

The MKs approved 11 different proposals, nine by the opposition and two by the coalition, that were brought to the floor together in a parliamentary process known as “hatzmada” (literally “attachment”), in which different law proposals that are very similar are packaged together.

The bills will now head to the Knesset Committee, which will decide whether to continue the process in that body or in the Law Committee. The Knesset Committee is headed by coalition rebel MK Nir Orbach, while the Law Committee is headed by Labor MK Gilad Kariv. The body that receives the bill can control the pace of its passing.

Meanwhile, the coalition threatened yesterday to bring forward the “defendants bill” for its initial reading on the Knesset floor instead of next week. However, at press time, it was not brought forward.

The threat to begin the legislative process early came as the opposition blew up negotiations on a number of bills that the coalition wants to pass before the Knesset disperses.

The negotiations came to an impasse due to the coalition’s refusal to reverse the April 25 Knesset House Committee decision that officially categorized MK Amichai Chikli as a defector, coalition whip MK Boaz Toporovsky wrote on social media.

The Likud demanded the cancellation since the decision barred Chikli from running with any existing party in the next election, including the Likud.

However a source in the coalition said the opposition may be using the Chikli issue as a delay tactic to buy itself more time to come up with an alternate government.

Sources reported on Wednesday evening that a breakthrough had been reached, and that the two sides had agreed on a package of bills to push through on Monday, but at press time the report was not confirmed by either side.

The Defendant’s Law was initially set to reach the ministerial committee on the legislation’s agenda on Sunday, and then reach the Knesset floor on Monday.

Its purpose is to block from forming a government an MK who has been indicted for a felony and whose punishment is at least three years.

Since Netanyahu is in criminal proceedings, the bill would apply to him.

Knesset speaker MK Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid) said that his party would support the bill.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett decided to give Yamina’s MKs permission to vote as they choose, but wrote on Twitter that he himself would vote against it.

Yamina MK Abir Kara also wrote on Twitter that he would vote against it, and fellow MK Shirley Pinto said that she would abstain.

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked has been the government’s staunchest opponent of the bill and is expected to vote against the bill.