Edelstein: Court undermining democracy's foundations, but I won't allow anarchy

In a statement on his resignation, Edelstein says the High Court ruling forcing him to call a vote on his replacement “is not based on the letter of the law but on a one-sided interpretation. It undermines the foundations of democracy.

“As one who paid a personal price of years in prison [in Russia] for the right to live as a citizen in Israel, as a Zionist and as the speaker of this House I will not let Israel come to anarchy. I will not give my support to a civil war.”

“Thus for the good of the State of Israel and to renew the spirit of statesmanship in Israel I am resigning from my position as Knesset speaker. We will pray and work for better days.”