Netanyahu's bill to cancel ministers limit advances to Knesset voting

The implication of adding ministers would also "waste public funds, be detrimental to government efficiency and hinder the ability to promote the Ministries’ policy," claimed Shapira and Kenig.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Knesset House Committee voting on whether to pass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bill to cancel ministers limit (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
The Knesset House Committee voting on whether to pass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bill to cancel ministers limit
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
The Knesset House Committee met on Monday to discuss the bill proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that proposes to cancel the 2013 law limiting the number of ministers in a government to 18.
The bill, which will have to go through three votes in the Knesset, the first of which is expected to take place Monday evening, would allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appoint as many ministers as he needs to complete coalition negotiations.
The Knesset House Committee voted in favor of advancing the bill to the Knesset, with 14 members voting in favor and 10 against.
Chairman of the House Committee MK Miki Zohar (Likud) opened the session by explaining that the reason behind the promotion of the bill is that it is detrimental to the creation of the government, which would not be possible without it.
MK Itzik Shmuli (Labor) attacked Netanyahu, saying that "There is an attempt here to keep the prime minister away from facing justice in exchange for the getting others closer to the plate," and also added that the bill "does not mention how many more ministers are to be appointed, you are asking for a blank check."
MK Ofer Shelah (Blue and White) related to Zohar's reasoning behind adding more ministers, by saying that "Everyone knows the goal is to establish a government that would pass the immunity bill and exempt Netanyahu from standing trial."
"This bill would require the public to pay more taxes and cut funding for public services," Shelah continued.
Zohar disclosed that the plan is to add up to "four more ministers, possibly less, which would mean a maximum of 26 ministers."
Israel Democracy Institute researchers warned against the implications of passing such bill, claiming it serves only "short-term political interests," said Dr. Assaf Shapira and Dr. Ofer Kenig.
The implication of adding ministers would also "waste public funds, be detrimental to government efficiency and hinder the ability to promote the Ministries’ policy," claimed Shapira and Kenig.