Likud threatens to block Knesset work unless quarantining Bennett shows up

The opposition Likud party is demanding that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett appear before the plenum to be grilled on questions from lawmakers, despite his having been sent into quarantine by a suspected exposure to the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Likud’s Yariv Levin has sent an official letter to Knesset speaker Mickey Levy threatening to block all Knesset debates until Bennett is hauled before the plenum in a special isolation chamber.

The letter notes that the Knesset has found ways to allow quarantining individuals to participate when it wants to.

“Should the prime minister decide of his own volition to go against the rules and his own commitment, be it understood that there can be no debate on other matters and he won’t be allowed to participate in such debates and vote on these matters,” it reads.

The letter demands that the premier show up for a special type of debate which the law requires if 40 MKs sign a petition to that effect.

The demand comes moments after Bennett’s spokesman announces that the premier will remain in quarantine and work from home after his daughter was found to be carrying a suspected case of the Omicron coronavirus variant.