After canceling first vote, Knesset votes against probe into submarine affair

The Knesset rejects a proposal to form a parliamentary inquiry into the submarines affair, after nullifying an earlier vote that advanced the bid against the coalition’s wishes.

Likud MK Miki Zohar — who is coalition whip — says various coalition lawmakers did not know to vote in the first round, because he had asked for a name ballot, rather than an electronic vote, and they were waiting for their names to be called. He says Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin erred in ordering a regular vote and a repeat vote had to be called. Under parliamentary procedure, lawmakers can request that a vote be held by name ballot, which sees them call out their vote when their names are called.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted a coronavirus cabinet meeting so ministers could rush to the plenum to vote against the proposal to form a state probe into the major corruption scandal, which has ensnared several close associates of Netanyahu but not the premier himself, according to Channel 12.

Opposition MKs shout “shame,” and “who needs democracy?” after the first vote — which passed 25-23 — was nullified by the Knesset speaker, a member of the Likud party.

Tweets Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg, who lodged the proposal: “Unbelievable disgrace: The coalition canceled a vote after the proposal to create a parliamentary inquiry into the submarines affair that I proposed passed! There is no way you can steal a vote.”