The resignation of Isreal’s parliament speaker, Yuli Edelstein, clears the way for the opposition to move forward with efforts in parliament to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But by resigning, Edelstein, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, also defied a Supreme Court order to hold a vote for his successor, throwing down a new obstacle that could delay the opposition from proceeding with its agenda for several days.
Knesset Speaker abruptly resigned Wednesday, dealing a blow to and deepening the country’s political turmoil as the embattled Israeli leader tries to cling to power amid a fast-spreading outbreak of the Coronavirus and a looming corruption trial.
The move drew an angry reaction from the opposition Blue and White Party, which now has the backing from a slim parliamentary majority.
“The Israeli parliament belongs to Israel’s citizens, and their elected representatives will follow the laws of the state of Israel and the rulings of its courts. No one is above the law,” Blue and White leader Benny Gantz tweeted.
Edelstein suspended parliamentary activities last week, citing procedural issues and restrictions on large gatherings due to the spread of the Coronavirus. But opponents accused him of blocking the vote on his replacement to shield Netanyahu from legislation that would limit his lengthy rule. Netanyahu was recently indicted on various corruption charges and faces a criminal trial.
Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest party in the election earlier this month, but along with his smaller religious and nationalist allies, won only the support of 58 lawmakers — leaving his right-wing bloc three seats short of the required majority in parliament. Gantz is backed by a slim majority in the newly elected Knesset and has been pushing for the country’s legislature to continue functioning at such a critical time, even without a permanent government in place.
Israel’s president has given Gantz one month to try to form a new government, and Edelstein’s stalling tactics could cost him valuable time.
