DEBKAfile
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Likud leader prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu called a snap meeting on Thursday of the leaders of the parties supporting him – plus Party Whip Micky Zohar and Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin – to discuss the ramifications of opposition leader Yair Lapid’s submission of a majority coalition list to the president on Wednesday night. Yamina lawmaker Nir Aurbach has meanwhile pulled his vote for a new Knesset Speaker, leaving the Lapid-Bennet lineup without a majority.
The coalition deal is fraying at two additional points on the way to Knesset endorsement and swearing-in: Far-left Meretz’s demand for benefits for the gay community is opposed by the Arab Raam party leader Mansour Abbas, who is destined to be the first Arab Muslim lawmaker to be integrated in an Israeli government coalition. And MK Ze‘ev Elkin of New Hope won’t hear of the United Arab List eking out the government’s majority in the event of more dropouts..
Israel s ‘change’ bloc attempts hasty move to replace Knesset speaker
Israel’s ‘change’ bloc attempts hasty move to replace Knesset speaker
The initiative, which lacked the necessary support within the coalition-in-formation, comes on the heels of Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid s announcement of his ability to form the next government.
Yamina Party leader Naftali Bennett (seated) and Yesh Atid Party chairman Yair Lapid in the Knesset in Jerusalem during the election for the next Israeli president, June 2, 2021. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90.
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(June 3, 2021 / JNS) Israel’s “change” bloc, headed by Yesh Atid Party chairman Yair Lapid, initiated a move to replace Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.
Hours after Yesh Atid chief Yair Lapid announced to President Reuven Rivlin he had managed to form a government, members of the "bloc for change" submitted their signatures Thursday morning to replace Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, who is from the Likud. The government-in-waiting seeks to replace Levin with Yesh Atid
After meeting Bennett, wavering legislator Nir Orbach appears to reject calls to vote against coalition; parties reject Joint List's support for quickly replacing Knesset speaker