The Knesset is about to be dissolved, but even before the final vote was taken, a storm arose in the plenum this morning (Thursday) following a speech by opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu.
"In the past year, I have listened to the sounds of your heart, I have heard about your problems and troubles. I have also looked inward. I have learned a great deal," Netanyahu said in his opening remarks.
"Everyone who listens to the citizens of Israel sees that something fundamental has gone wrong in the past year in our country. Personal security has been undermined, national honor has been humiliated, fear of our enemies has increased, Israeli flags have been removed and PLO flags have been raised.
The cost of living is hitting us all in the pocket - with fuel that has risen again this morning, with mortgages, with food, with electricity.
"Every Israeli's shopping basket breaks all-time records, and no government will take care of that."
He added: "Promise change, talk about healing, do an experiment - and the experiment fails. That's what you get when you take a right-wing pike, mix with the Muslim Brotherhood and the joint list. That's exactly what the upcoming election is about. Will a failed Lapid government be formed here again? "Which depends on the Muslim Brotherhood, jointly, supporters of terrorism, or a broad and strong national government headed by us that will bring back to Israel the pride, power and hope?"
MK Abbas, shouts at MK Netanyahu, this morning, Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman - Danny Shem Tov
At this point, Prime Minister MK Mansour Abbas erupted in Netanyahu's speech. In response, he was furious with Knesset Speaker MK Miki Levy, telling him: "Take them out, this is not how you run a yeshiva."
Later, the opposition chairman said: “The only government that Yair Lapid can form is with the Muslim Brotherhood and the joint list.
"Lapid has already closed with the RAAM and the joint the next government, he has no government without them, it is simple mathematics. Do not believe the denials, because with our own eyes we saw that this is what has held the government in recent months.
The former prime minister continued to attack Foreign Minister Lapid, calling him "the most failed finance minister in the country's history" - a position he held, as I recall, under Netanyahu's own government.
"In contrast, we know how to stop inflation and lower prices. The current government has only raised prices and taxes and distributed billions to each other. We will lower the cost of living and march Israel to the pinnacle of global technological and scientific progress."
Knesset Speaker Levy (right) and Opposition Speaker Netanyahu this morning, Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman Noam Moskowitz
Following the conclusion of the plenary debate, the voting on the reservations to the Knesset Dispersal Law will begin - and then the votes on the law itself are expected to take place in two readings.
If both pass, the current Knesset will be dissolved.
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