Netanyahu loses first Knesset vote as opposition targets five laws

The bloc of interim Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered its first defeat in the new Knesset, while Change Camp parties led by Gadi Eisenkot prepare to repeal five laws passed by the outgoing government.

The bloc of interim Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered its first parliamentary defeat in the newly elected Knesset on Wednesday after opposition and Arab parties secured a majority in a vote to form the Arrangements Committee, winning 63 votes to 50. The committee will be chaired by MK Roi Folkman of the Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot.

Under the approved formula, Likud will receive five seats on the committee, while Yesh Atid, the Joint List, the Democrats and the United Arab List will each receive two seats. Likud criticized the vote, saying that parties led by Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett had sided with Arab lawmakers Ahmad Tibi and Mansour Abbas.

The plenary hall of the Israeli Knesset (archive)

Five laws on the table

Israel Hayom reported that leaders of the Change Camp had agreed on a special legislative process, through dedicated parliamentary committees, to repeal five laws the opposition considers “politicized”: the law governing the committee for selecting judges; the law dividing the position of the government’s legal adviser; the law on the Police Investigations Department; the communications and media law; and the incapacity law. The Democrats, led by Yair Golan, are expected to chair most of these committees.

Warning against military moves

Eisenkot, who was tasked with forming the government after the October 27 elections, had warned Netanyahu against carrying out any military action “without a direct and immediate threat” before the new government was formed. Netanyahu’s office accused him of irresponsibility on security matters. The Knesset is scheduled to elect a new speaker next Tuesday.

Photos: Anadolu, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0, archive)