From the Liveblog of
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Knesset to convene Monday at noon with agenda limited to war-related matters
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Following consultation with security officials and Opposition Coordinator Meirav Ben Ari, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana announces that the Knesset will convene on Monday at noon, but its agenda will remain limited to legislation considered urgent or important to the war. Such bills will be brought “by consensus only,” the Knesset spokesman says.
The Knesset will not convene on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, “urgent” parliamentary queries and motions will be considered, but any private member bills in their preliminary readings will not be.
In addition, no “nonessential” discussions are to be held in Knesset committees, the spokesman reiterates, adding that daily situation assessments are to be held to determine changes to the parliamentary agenda.
The Democrats MK Naama Lazimi writes to Ohana in protest of the decision, complaining that the Knesset Finance Committee must be convened, as it “deals with, among other things: property taxes, compensation for businesses, war costs, and more.”
“We received a notice that the Finance Committee’s discussions are canceled for the coming week,” she writes in a letter signed by other opposition members of the panel as well. “We’ve never had a coalition so disconnected from the people.”
On Saturday evening, Ohana announced that all Knesset committee meetings not essential for the current conflict with Iran will be canceled.
In addition, all Knesset employees who are not considered essential will switch to remote work, and all planned visitor groups and tours will be canceled, he decided.
The Times of Israel Community.