MK Avi Maoz (Noam) announced he will suspend his participation in the Knesset Media Committee deliberations, calling the bill in its current form a violation of Shabbat and the Jewish character of the state, and vowing to vote against it on the plenum floor.
MK Avi Maoz (Noam) escalated his opposition to the media regulation bill on Monday afternoon, announcing he is suspending his participation in the Knesset Media Committee. In a statement reported by journalist Daphna Liel (N12), Maoz said: "I cannot lend my hand to such a move. Therefore I have decided to end my participation in the deliberations of the Media Committee. If the bill is brought to a vote in its current format, I will vote against it in the Knesset plenum. I will not lend my hand to harming the Shabbat and the Jewish character of the State of Israel."
As The Zioneer reported at 13:38, Maoz had previously declared he would oppose the bill unless objections regarding Shabbat desecration were addressed. Today's statement marks a formal escalation from earlier warnings, signaling a coalition rift over the bill. The move comes as coalition discipline faces a test: Maoz's vote is critical to the government's narrow majority. The bill's sponsors have not yet indicated whether they will incorporate Maoz's reservations.
3 developments
- DevelopingMK Avi Maoz may skip Knesset vote on Torah Study Basic Law in protest over Western Wall bill
- StrongUnited Torah Judaism boycott stalls muezzin bill vote in Knesset
- StrongKnesset legal advisor invalidates Karhi broadcast law amendment on procedural grounds
- DevelopingUTJ expected to skip media law vote; Shas backing clears path for passage
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