OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS BOYCOTT KNESSET TO PROTEST

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001337

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV IS
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS BOYCOTT KNESSET TO PROTEST
LEGISLATION


1. (U) The Kadima-led opposition this week united to oppose
the government's attempts to pass several measures aimed at
increasing the long-term stability of Israeli governments,
but also specifically intended to assist Prime Minister
Netanyahu. Opposition leader Livni pushed to have the six
opposition parties -- encompassing 46 seats in the 120-seat
Knesset -- boycott the Knesset's plenum sessions and
committee meetings, including the first reading of the budget
bill. Some Israeli commentators have called the opposition's
tactics unprecedented, and the moves were especially notable
because they united such disparate factions as the extreme
right-wing National Union and the anti-Zionist Arab-Israeli
parties. None of the bills have been presented to the
Knesset for their first readings, though reports say that
could change as early as June 22.


2. (SBU) The most controversial bill would make it easier
for members of larger parties to split off and form a new
party. Current law requires that one-third of a party's MKs
must split in order to avoid punitive measures that most
likely would keep the rebellious MKs from being elected to
the next Knesset. The proposal would change the law to
instead require one-third or seven seats, whichever is
easiest. The bill appears to target Kadima's
second-in-command, former Likud member Shaul Mofaz, who
challenged Livni for the Kadima chairmanship and has publicly
advocated for Kadima to be in the government. Some in Likud
hope the change would encourage and allow Mofaz to recruit
six more Kadima MKs to split with the party and join the
coalition. According to Israeli press reports, both Kadima
and Likud officials have said they can reach a compromise on
other contentious legislation, but would not be flexible on
the so-called "Mofaz" bill.


3. (U) Another bill would allow a minister who gave his or
her seat to someone else from that party to regain it should
the party leave the coalition. The measure would alleviate
strains in coalition party the Jewish Home that center on
former MK Nissan Slomiansky's request that party Chairman and
now Science Minister Daniel Hershkovitz step down so that
Slomiansky could re-enter the Knesset. Furthermore, the
measure would strengthen the coalition's presence in the
plenum, as most ministers now spend considerable time running
their ministries rather than engaging in parliamentary debate.


4. (U) The opposition also has railed against the government
for proposing a change to the law governing votes of no
confidence. Presently, if a simple majority of the Knesset
votes no confidence in the government, the named MK in the
original petition is allowed to try to form a government and
if he or she fails there are elections. The new legislation
would change the procedure so that if the named MK cannot
form a government, the original no confidence vote is null
and void and the government continues to function.


5. (SBU) While some of the measures -- most notably the
Mofaz bill -- face opposition on the substance of the
legislation alone, it seems that the intensity of the
opposition's response has more to do with a perception that
the government is aggressively moving to change the rules
solely to ensure its survival. Each of these bills on its
own might pass without a full-blown crisis, but when taken
together, and when considering that Netanyahu already has won
approval for a two-year budget that allows him to avoid a
bruising battle next year, it appears to be too much for the
opposition to take. Livni's willingness to flout Knesset
tradition by leading a parliamentary boycott also could be
geared toward accentuating differences with the government so
that she can fend off pressure by some in Kadima to join the
majority.

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