MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) has ordered a halt to all votes in the Knesset until the coalition approves the arrest law, according to reports. The move signals a coalition crisis over the legislation.
At 22:38 Jerusalem, MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) ordered a halt to all Knesset votes until the coalition approves the arrest law, deepening the coalition crisis that had already paralyzed the plenum earlier in the evening. The move comes after a series of ultimatums and disputes over legislative priorities that began following the passage of the Basic Law: Torah Study.
The Zioneer reported at 21:56 that the Knesset approved the Basic Law: Torah Study in its final reading, 63-52. Immediately after, Haredi coalition parties issued an ultimatum, relayed by N12's Daphna Liel, stating they would not vote on any coalition law unless the next bill brought to the plenum is the arrest-freeze bill for yeshiva students. Simultaneously, Religious Zionism demanded its own legislative priority. The plenum was then halted for a four-hour break, as reported by political correspondent Shalom Stein, to discuss the service extension law, communications law, and budget transfers. The ultimatum was later reinforced by the Haredi parties' clarification that they would not vote on any coalition law without the arrest freeze bill.
The crisis unfolds within the broader context of coalition tensions over the budget and judicial reforms, as The Zioneer has previously noted. The arrest law, which Gafni has been pushing, is a key piece of legislation for United Torah Judaism, aiming to freeze arrests of yeshiva students regarding military conscription.
The coalition's response to Gafni's directive remains unclear. No official statement has been issued by coalition leaders, and it is not yet known whether the ultimatum will be met or if further negotiations will take place. The arrest law itself has not yet been brought to the plenum for a vote.
8 developments
- DevelopingMK Porush reveals coalition agreement with legal counsel on detention law vote
- StrongUnited Torah Judaism joins Shas in blocking coalition legislation unless draft-evader arrests end and Torah study Basic Law passes
- StrongNetanyahu convenes coalition heads Tuesday to secure majority for draft-evader arrest freeze
- DevelopingMK Meir Porush calls to advance daycare bill to final approval
Source and signal
- Internal intake