Gantz to prime minister: Abandoning immunity, Netanyahu: Spinless - let's discuss seriously

Hours after the Knesset's dissolution bill was drafted, the blue-and-white chairman called on the prime minister "not to hide behind parliamentary immunity" and stated that his party is making efforts to prevent elections. Netanyahu replied: "It is time for us to sit down and discuss seriously for the establishment of a government, not too late."

Gantz to prime minister: Abandoning immunity, Netanyahu: Spinless - let's discuss seriously

On the road to elections - latest updates

• Gantz: Netanyahu must pledge not to hide behind parliamentary immunity
• Netanyahu replied: Without any spins, it's time to sit down and discuss the matter seriously
• During the day there were no contacts between the parties and unity
• On the Knesset table, the bill for dissemination was laid

A day ahead of the Knesset's automatic dissolution, Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz calls on Netanyahu to pledge not to exercise his immunity, while Netanyahu rejected his claim and urged him to stop spinning, as he put it. "I want you to know that my friends in blue and white are making every effort to find an outline "I will also call Netanyahu tonight, as you promised before the previous elections, that you do not hide behind parliamentary immunity and go about defending your innocence in court."

"It is important for me to say - you have the full right to defend yourself, but you must not make the Knesset a haven," added Gantz. "Do this in parliament so that we can find a solution and form a government."

The day before the mandate expires: A bill to dissolve the 22nd Knesset was introduced

Call on Netanyahu to pledge to give up immunity, again. Gantz, yesterday (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Benny Gantz at the Blue and White faction meeting, Knesset, December 9, 2019 (Photo: Elad Malka)

Netanyahu is not obliged. "Benny Gantz, I urge you to stop spinning," he said. "After 80 days, it is time that one day, for the benefit of the citizens of the State of Israel, we sit down and seriously discuss the establishment of a broad unity government. It is not yet late."

Despite the mutual statements and accusations games, during the day there were no contacts between the Likud and the blue and white to form a government. In fact, Gantz reiterated his call yesterday demanding that Netanyahu announce that he is waiving immunity requests from the Knesset, while yesterday Netanyahu has made it clear yesterday that he does not intend to waive the immunity legally granted to him.

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"Spinless." Netanyahu (Photo: Reuven Castro)

PM Netanyahu During Speech at Likud Emergency Conference against Minority Government Supported by Arab Parties, Exhibition Gardens, Tel Aviv, November 17, 2019 (Photo: Reuben Castro)

Thus, while the countdown to the Knesset dissipation continues, a bill to dissolve the 22nd Knesset has been put on the table this evening. The Knesset is expected to vote on the bill in three readings tomorrow, and at the latest until midnight - the automatic dissipation date in which none of the MKs will be able to form a government. According to the bill, the elections will be held on March 2, Monday of the week, and a week and a day before the election date. The original reason for the change - the Purim holiday that is being marked this year, and therefore it needs to be changed.

Thus, the Knesset will vote on two bills tomorrow. The first is the actual dissolution of the 22nd Knesset, and the second involves significant changes in the electoral process, the work of the Central Electoral Commission and the funding of the parties, as a result of the election. Once the bills are approved in three readings in the Knesset plenum, the 22nd Knesset will be dissolved and Israel will go to third elections in just a year.

The Regulatory Committee will meet tomorrow at 9.30 am to approve an exemption from the discount bill for the Knesset dissipation, an expedited procedure for promoting the bill only a day after it has been submitted. The final vote for the actual dispersal will take place around midnight tonight.

Protesters near Minister Kahlon's house: "Don't go"

In the meantime, dozens gathered near the home of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, asking not to retire from political life. The rally was organized by supporters of Kahlon following recent publications about his upcoming retirement from political life.

The protesters carried signs "Kahlon will stay" and "Do not go". "Moshe Kahlon took care of the Treasury for the weaker and middle classes," said the mayor of Ashkelon. "There was no such treasury minister in the history of the state. It will be a huge loss to politics and I hope he decides to stay." The mayor of Kiryat Shmona Avichai Stern also joined in: "We urge you not to retire. The periphery needs you and people like you in Israeli politics. People who see high-level people. Characters like you lack Israeli politics. We believe in you and want you to stay with us for the State of Israel and with Israel." .

Gantz to prime minister: Abandoning immunity, Netanyahu: Spinless - let's discuss seriously

"The rally is our way of saying to Moses as a window that he is important to us his activists and supporters that we love him and that he is equally important to all Israelis and the Israeli public," said Menashe Shemesh, one of the demonstrators. "A man who has made a very significant and great contribution to our life in the country."

Demonstration of support for Moshe Kahlon outside his home in Haifa, December 10, 2019 (Photo: official website)