On Sunday, the government unanimously approved the signing of a decree postponing local elections from January 30 to February 27, 2024. The decision was made after reservists claimed for weeks that the deadline violated their basic right to vote and be elected.
The government's decision this morning was made after the IDF presented data indicating that there are 688 servants who cannot be released at this time, who are running in 144 authorities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of the meeting: "We don't usually hold elections during wartime, but these elections were predetermined. They have already been postponed once, it is very difficult to postpone them for a very long period, but there are two options: either hold them at the end of January, or hold them at the end of February.
"My recommendation is clear: do it at the end of February, in order to allow as many reservists as possible to participate in the elections. This is an elementary and important right."
Photo: Roy Avraham / GPO, Sound: Ben Peretz / GPO
Religious Zionism Chairman Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on the postponement of the municipal elections: "I congratulate the members of the Israeli government who postponed the elections. When our soldiers are at the front, they cannot participate in the vote, and the last thing the citizens of Israel need is election debates. We led this rejection on behalf of tens of thousands of soldiers who are not willing to give up their right to vote and be elected."
MK Ohad Tal (Religious Zionism): "Common sense has prevailed! We fought at the front, they continued to guard us. Keep fighting quietly! I regret that in recent weeks we have had to wage a struggle for your basic right. But despite everything, I'm glad we were able to bend the little politics and win a little bit for you."
Interior Committee Chairman MK Yaakov Asher: "I welcome the government's decision to postpone the local elections to February, on a date that we added in the Interior Committee as the additional and more appropriate date to hold the elections."
What is important at the moment is to provide certainty to the municipal system, so tomorrow I will convene the Interior Committee to approve the postponement as required.
The decision is subject to approval by the Knesset Interior Committee followed by a vote in the plenum.
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