Politics and Knesset
Outgoing Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein has a lot to say about the events of the past few months. Having recently become the first Knesset Speaker in history to resign, he says he’s learned to stand up for his principles, even if it comes at a price.
Implementation of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria under the Trump peace plan, the distribution of senior government posts and the appointment of a new Knesset Speaker are reportedly three of the major sticking points threatening to send Israel back to the polls.
Alliance of right-wing parties says it “will not be a fig leaf for a left-wing government” • Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked: “Sitting in the opposition is definitely an option.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Resilience Party leader Benny Gantz announce following overnight talks that they expect to finalize a unity deal on Sunday.
Likud’s Benjamin Netanyahu will serve as prime minister for 18 months before handing the premiership as part of a rotation to Blue and White challenger Benny Gantz.
Is Israel’s judiciary overstepping its authority? Or is the legislature undermining the judiciary?
Under the emerging deal, Benjamin Netanyahu will stay on for about 18 months, after which Benny Gantz would become prime minister.
“Democracy is slowly dying,” warns former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked • Likud MK Miki Zohar: “It seems the time has come when the public must decide between its elected officials and the legal junta.”
Meir Indor, head of the Almagor organization that advocates for victims of terrorism and their families, called the development “a dark day for victims of terrorism.”
One of the foremost authorities on Israel’s Arab society, professor Raphael Israeli, disputes the claim that extremist, anti-Zionist Arab politicians don’t represent the views of their constituency.
Yuli Edelstein told JNS that “the Knesset bylaws are clear that following an election, the vote for speaker does not have to be done until a new government is formed.”
After a government subcommittee is established to oversee the program, Israel’s top court gives the Shin Bet internal security agency the go-ahead to use sophisticated tracking technology to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.
