Bennett's government pushes off anti-Netanyahu bill

• Published date: 15 June 2021
• Date: 15 June 2021
• Author: GIL HOFFMAN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

During the first month of the government, private members' bills will not be allowed from either the coalition or the opposition. The opposition wants to embarrass both right-wing and left-wing government ministers by proposing their own bills from the past that they will now have to vote against due to coalition discipline.

"Whenever a Knesset starts, there is a grace period for MKs to get acclimated," a coalition source said. "It has nothing to do with fear of us losing a vote."

What will be advanced during the first month are bills giving additional time to pass the state budget, setting the equality of the Right and Center-Left blocs within the current government and clarifying the roles of prime minister and alternate prime minister.

The most controversial bill the coalition intends to pass is amending the Expanded Norwegian Law, which enables ministers and deputy ministers to resign their Knesset seats to allow the next candidates on their party lists to take their place. Any minister who subsequently leaves the cabinet automatically reverts to becoming an MK and displaces the person for whom they made way.

The coalition agreement calls for amending the Norwegian Law to enable factions such as Yamina, which has seven MKs, to have four ministers and deputies resign; factions with three, such as New Hope, could have three quit.

Yesh Atid had opposed the bill in the past. But every faction in the...