At the end of a dramatic debate in the Knesset, the plenum dropped the bill intended to prevent going to the polls. This means that the Knesset is due to disperse at midnight and the elections will be held on March 23.
The focus of the debate was MK Michal Shir of the Likud, who voted against the proposal, contrary to the party’s position. After the vote, Shir tweeted: Political chairs therefore I will resign from the Knesset and join Tikva Hadasha, headed by Gideon Saar“.
Some Likud MKs were furious at Shir’s vote and shouted at her to “steal seats.” In her place, Shevach Stern will enter the next Knesset on the Likud list.
I agree with my conscience to do the least I can to end this embarrassing show of a stuck and conflicted government holding an entire country hostage to political chairs, so I will resign from the Knesset and join Gideon Saar, led by Tikva Hadasha.
– Michal Shir – Michal Shir (@MichalShir) December 21, 2020
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted after the vote: “Blue and white withdrew from the agreements and dragged us to unnecessary elections during the Corona crisis. We do not want elections and we voted against them tonight as well, but we are not afraid of elections – because we will win!”
Coalition chairman MK Miki Zohar tweeted: “After I asked to declare Yifat Shasha Bitton as a retiree, I would like to announce the same to MK Michal Shir and MK Sharan Hashakel. Shir voted against the faction’s position and the mind refused to go to the polls, contrary to the position of the Likud faction, which did everything to prevent the election. It is time to put an end to those who exploit the Likud movement and work against it. “
MK Ofer Shelach (Yesh Atid) said after the vote: “The straight-laced people in blue and white have defeated the cowardice of Ganz and Ashkenazi. This evil government has come to the end of its path, now is the time to bring about change! ‘
MK Aida Toma-Suleiman (joint list) said of the dissolution of the Knesset: “This is – the farce of this government is over. This election will be difficult and dangerous, but it is the least bad. We will represent a Jewish, left-wing, democratic Arab alternative – and we will do everything we can to weaken the right. “
After the “compromise” law fell, the opposition center and chairman of the Yesh Atid-TLAM faction, MK Meir Cohen, said: “The national paralysis government has collapsed. The time has come for the citizens of the State of Israel to win a government that will deal with the crisis and not itself. Israel is running in elections that will be an irreplaceable opportunity to replace Netanyahu, give hope and make it good here. We call on anyone who wants change to stand behind us on the path to forming a government that will lead Israel in the years to come. We are headed by Yair Lapid, the only alternative to Netanyahu. “
Meretz chairman, MK Nitzan Horowitz, tweeted: “21/03/2021, equality, freedom, peace. Long live the Israeli left.” MK Merav Michaeli (Labor) tweeted at the end of the vote on the dissolution of the Knesset law: Probably sat down and wrote a new platform of promises to violate voters.im. Now that the election is a fait accompli, I will turn to the court this morning to advance the hearing of my petition against the decision passed by Molipertz to cancel the Labor Party primaries. They should retire before then. “
The chairman of the joint list, MK Ayman Odeh, said: “This government was born out of racism and fear and there is one conclusion that Jewish and Arab citizens must draw from the 23rd Knesset: Anyone who lowers his head against incitement and hatred will immediately become its victim. The crooked experience “Extending the life of this government was its last failure. This time do not expect imitation to be an alternative.”