From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 24, 2023
Coalition members said arguing over last-minute compromise even as voting proceeds
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Even as the voting proceeds, coalition members are moving around the chamber, with Channel 12 claiming that ministers are discussing a last-minute compromise of some kind.
Without sourcing, the TV station says Justice Minister Yariv Levin is at the forefront of opposition to any such move, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is at the heart of the effort.
It claims coalition officials have even been consulting with legal experts about how it might be procedurally possible to engineer a compromise even as the bill is being voted through.
As the coalition votes down the stream of reservations to the legislation, Netanyahu sits in the plenum, with Levin and Itamar Ben Gvir to one side of him and Miri Regev on the other. He then gets up and leaves the chamber, where he is said to be consulting with Aryeh Deri, before returning.
Ben Gvir issues a statement saying any compromise on the bill will be a disgrace to the entire political right.
Coalition and opposition sources, meanwhile, are blaming each other for the collapse of their compromise negotiations. Opposition sources say Netanyahu wanted a compromise but was deterred by Levin’s threat to bring down the coalition. Coalition sources say Lapid was ready for an agreement but was dissuaded by the anti-overhaul protest leaders.
The Times of Israel Community.