A stinging defeat for the coalition: the Judea and Samaria law was defeated • Likud: Bennett goes home, it's over

June 6, 2022   

A stinging loss for the coalition: The Knesset plenum rejected the Judea and Samaria Regulations Law presented by Gideon Saar this evening (Monday), by a majority of 58 against and 52 in favor. MKs Jida Rinavi Zoabi of Meretz and Mezan Ganaim of RAAM, two coalition members, voted against the law. RAAM party chairman Mansur Abbas was absent from the Knesset plenum, as was MK Idit Silman of Rina. After Mezan Ganaim voted against the law, MK Nir Orbach attacked him, shouting: "You don't want to be partners. The experiment with you has failed." MKs and Knesset security personnel were called to separate them. Likud responded to the defeat of the law: "Bennett - go home. It's over. It's time to return Israel to the right." The center of the opposition, MK Yariv Levin, welcomed the defeat of the law: "Today we brought the end of the failed left-wing government one step closer. A government that is unable to pass basic Zionist and security laws has no right to exist." Foreign Minister Yair Lapid responded: "As always after a loss, we will come back stronger and win the next round." MK Jedda Rinaw Zoabi of Meretz explained why she voted against the law: "It is my duty to be on the right side of history by not legitimizing the occupation and supporting the basic right of the Palestinian people to establish a state alongside the State of Israel." She added: "Two weeks ago I voted against the law granting scholarships to military personnel and today I voted against a law that aims to legalize the settlements. All the claims that Jedda is trying to blackmail the government are unfounded and unjust. My work is dedicated to my people." The chairman of Religious Zionism, MK Bezalel Smotrich, responded: "Tonight it was once again proven that this government relies on anti-Zionist elements and cannot take care of the most basic values ​​and needs of the citizens of Israel. "This government has no right to exist and today, thank God, we have come one step closer to the end of the Bennett-Abbas-Tibi government. Thank God we were fired." Beit El Council Chairman Shai Alon addressed the prime minister following the loss in the vote, calling on him to act responsibly and put down the keys. "There is no longer a goal or purpose for this clinging to the chair. Even if you tried to convince yourself that you did the right thing, the moment has come when the excuses are over. It is not working and you are endangering all of us, all the citizens of the State of Israel. Return the keys. Let us embark on a new path in which we have a coalition that can govern. Enough Naftali - free us." Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri responded: "A failed left-wing government that is unable to pass a basic security law has no right to exist. It is not yet too late. It is time to establish a strong right-wing government in the current Knesset, headed by Netanyahu, that will take care of the security, the economy, and the Jewish identity of the country.".