Opposition MK seeks to thwart start of Knesset review of Lebanon deal

MK Simcha Rothman asks Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy to cancel this evening’s opening of the Knesset plenum, which would delay the Knesset’s evaluation of Israel’s maritime border agreement with Lebanon.

Rothman claims that convening the plenum tonight with only a day’s notice is “illegal,” writing to Levy that he cannot convene the Knesset during recess without House Committee approval. The Religious Zionism lawmaker also writes that the ongoing Sukkot holiday should be a factor delaying the plenum’s opening.

The Knesset meanwhile plans to delay opening the plenum by just 30 minutes to 6:30 p.m. this evening, says a Knesset spokesman. Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy last night announced his intention to convene this special session for the express purpose of tabling the deal with Lebanon, which would enable lawmakers to review its details.

While the government plans to give MKs two weeks to evaluate the agreement, the Knesset will not vote on it. Instead, the deal will return to the cabinet for final approval.

The agreement must be tabled by tomorrow in order to have a chance to complete the process and be signed before Israel goes to elections and Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s term ends – both slated for November 1.