From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Otzma Yehudit MK abstains from vote that would delay key budget bill, paving its path to plenum
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"
MK Almog Cohen abstains from a vote to reopen discussions on a key budget-related bill in the Knesset Welfare Committee, paving the way for it to go to the plenum for its second and third readings despite the opposition of his far-right Otzma Yehudit party.
Cohen’s key abstention on the Economic Efficiency Bill came less than a day after Otzma Yehudit attempted to have him replaced on the committee. Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik tells lawmakers that the request was not submitted in accordance with Knesset regulations and was rejected.
“With this budget, Finance Ministry officials will cause the closure of police stations and civil defense squads and mass layoffs of police officers,” claims Otzma Yehudit in a statement. “It is very unfortunate that MK Cohen is acting contrary to his faction’s position.”
On Monday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir held Otzma Yehudit’s weekly faction meeting without Cohen, who last week broke party discipline to vote with the coalition on another key budget-related bill.
On Sunday, coalition whip Ofir Katz announced that legislation sponsored by Otzma Yehudit would be removed from the Knesset agenda due to the party’s pledge to continue voting against the government.
