Governance Bill approved by Knesset

The Knesset on Tuesday passed into law the so-called Governance Bill, which raises the minimum threshold parties need to enter the Knesset and contains other measures which its backers say will improve stability in the Israeli political system.

The bill, sponsored by Yisrael Beytenu chair and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, was approved by a 67-0 vote with no abstentions or opposition votes, as the voting was boycotted by opposition parties, which are opposed to the measure.

The bill raises the minimum threshold for a party to enter the Knesset to 3.25 percent of total votes, as opposed to the previous 2%. This is seen by analysts as having a devastating effect on the three Arab parties, none of which would have cleared the 3.25% threshold if it had applied in the last elections.

The bill also freezes the maximum number of government ministers at 18, and makes it more difficult for Knesset members to succeed in a vote of no-confidence, which is used to bring down a government and call new elections.