Blue and White Chairman MK Benny Gantz said this evening (Wednesday), at the Institute for National Security Studies conference, that next week he will bring President Trump's full plan to the Knesset for approval - and drew raised eyebrows from reporters and political commentators.
""Am I reading this correctly?" wondered political commentator Yaakov Rivlin. "To the best of my knowledge, only bills can be submitted on behalf of the government during the Knesset recess.".
Akiva Novik, Knesset correspondent for News 13: "It is not clear exactly how Gantz intends to bring it to the plenum for approval next week. It seems to me that during an election period, only a government bill can be brought. They can only bring it as a law of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee with the approval of Miki Zohar and Edelstein. Or initiate a symbolic debate and a symbolic vote without a law, but that also requires Edelstein's approval.".
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Zeev Kam, Knesset correspondent for 'Kan News', quipped: "Gantz can bring the 100th Plan for approval by the Knesset next week just like the tea and coffee distributors in the Knesset can bring the plan for approval by the Knesset next week.".
Then he clarified, "For those who didn't understand the cynicism, nothing can come up for a vote in the Knesset plenum without the approval of the Knesset Speaker. Even more so when it comes to a private bill. It's simply not in the hands of Gantz or any other MK for that matter.".
MK Miki Zohar also rushed to respond to the Blue and White chairman's statement: "Gantz is embarrassing himself by trying to take the credit that belongs to Prime Minister Netanyahu. For those wondering, he cannot bring the plan to a vote in the Knesset; only the government can, in accordance with the Knesset regulations.".
""They are trying to change the rules again, God willing, this time it won't work for them. Whoever claims to be Prime Minister must learn how the Knesset works.".
Dafna Liel, Knesset correspondent for News 12, came up with the excuse: "Blue and White is making it clear that this is a Knesset statement and not a law. In short, they mainly want to return to the dialogue. Annexation will not come out of this. They are trying to embarrass Netanyahu by saying that the right opposes the Trump plan in its entirety.".
