The opposition is preparing for a particularly militant Knesset session which, according to their estimates and hopes, will end soon after the fall of the government.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the Knesset summer conference will take place and the plenary debates will open on Monday, a senior Likud official told Israel Today that the opposition will act in three main ways - finding defectors, constant pressure on the coalition, and opposition to legislation other than individual cases discussed with the coalition.
Since the retirement of Idit Silman, another retiree has been in the Likud, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset members have said for the past two weeks that another retiree is just around the corner, but it is unclear whether these are messages intended to create a threatening cloud over the coalition or contacts with another retiree.
As in the winter session, the opposition intends to use every possible parliamentary tool in order to prevent successes and achievements for the coalition, they will raise proposals of no confidence, proposals for reservations, full utilization of speech times, etc.
Waiting for more defectors.
Silman, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
As for the manner in which the opposition will vote during the summer conference, a senior Likud member tells Israel Today that the strategy in the current session will be similar to the strategy in the winter session.
The opposition then opposed any legislation of the coalition, but in important laws such as the Citizenship Law (passed with the support of the opposition) negotiations were conducted and agreements were reached.
"There is no sweeping statement that we will vote against but we have demands," says a senior opposition figure. "For example, there is a 'Dimensions for Studies' program designed to help discharged soldiers. We may think that the budget for such a program should be larger. If the coalition agrees, we could very well vote for it and if not, then not."
"We will continue as we have done so far - constant pressure to oppose the laws, bringing our laws on Wednesdays, we have better opening conditions. Our chances of succeeding in voting are greater than before."
As for the issue of defectors, the senior says, "We are working in many directions, you can never know what will come of it. It is a combination of personal political circumstances and more. .For example, it is difficult to say that we are able to direct what is happening in the RAAM.
"It is difficult to say that we are able to direct what is happening in the USSR." Abbas, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
He added that "there are many elements in the government who understand that the formation of this government was a mistake, they understand that its days are numbered. Will they take a step? I do not know. What is certain is that the next Knesset has no form of Knesset. It has no capacity to function."
Meanwhile, ahead of the opening of the Knesset session, the Likud plans to put the law to dissolve the Knesset on the agenda ahead of Wednesday's votes, and if no majority is found, the law will continue from the agenda.
The party believes that even if the PM continues the policy of freezing their coalition membership in everything related to the Knesset dissolution law, they will come to vote anyway.
The Likud knows that such a dramatic law will probably not be passed by a random majority, but even if it is not a feasible law, it is a thought-provoking achievement in the struggle against the government.
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