Knesset panel shoots down request to oust Kadima rebels

The Knesset House Committee rejected on Tuesday a request by Kadima head Shaul Mofaz to oust four rebel MKs, following their aborted attempt earlier this week to switch allegiance to the Likud.

The four MKS are Avraham Duan, Arie Bibi, Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich and Otniel Schneller. Had they been joined by three other members of Kadima’s 28-strong Knesset faction, they would have been able to switch allegiance and join the Likud.

The move came less than a week after Kadima left the governing coalition.

A minimum of seven MKs was required for the faction to be allowed to break away under Knesset bylaws.

Their move failed, however, because several other Kadima MKs who had considered splitting ultimately changed their minds.

Mofaz lodged a request with the Knesset House Committee for the four to be considered to have bolted in any case. During the spirited debate, Mofaz was criticized by the panel members for not being present for the deliberations.

Meir Sheetrit of Kadima, representing Mofaz, said at the committee meeting that the law allows those who wish to split from a party to establish a new, separate faction, which should be the fate of the rebel MKs.

Sheetrit said that reports indicate that the four in question had received promises of ministerial positions from the prime minister and that official documents were signed to that effect.

During the meeting, Bibi denied signing any documents and stressed that he had “not left the Kadima party” and had not committed any action justifying his removal from the party. “Such a decision would be a fatal blow to freedom of expression,” he said.

Duan said that he was one of the founders of Kadima and had never voted in opposition to party decisions. He said that “talks were held” about leaving the party but there was no commitment.

Knesset legal adviser Eyal Yinon said on Tuesday that an MK expressing a desire to switch allegiance was not in and of itself enough to justify his expulsion from a party and that there was no precedent for such an event.

MKs who attempt to leave their party but fail must “abide by party discipline… or resign from the Knesset,” he added.