Knesset fails to decide on protest regulations as Israel enters lockdown

Edelstein tried to make emergency rules to stop protests • Zohar: “People will see the thousands gathering in Balfour, and on Yom Kippur there will be mass prayers. The 2nd Yom Kippur War awaits us."

By GIL HOFFMAN, TZVI JOFFRE, MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee debates changes to lockdown regulations, September 25, 2020. (photo credit: KNESSET SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE)
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee debates changes to lockdown regulations, September 25, 2020.
(photo credit: KNESSET SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE)
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, which had debated through most of the night Thursday and all morning Friday, dispersed just before the 2 p.m. lockdown began on Friday. 
The committee failed to approve the restriction on demonstrations that would have amended the Corona Law. It will now need to resume discussions next week, after Yom Kippur. As such, although the lockdown began, demonstrations can still take place. 
Opposition MKs filed around 4,000 alterations to the bill, which was part of what prevented it from being approved. 
The tightening of the lockdown had already been approved and therefore did not require approval of the plenum. However, further restriction of demonstrations and prayers requires legislation in order to enforce it.  
When it became apparent that the legislation process would not be able to be completed, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein attempted instead to bring emergency regulations that would have allowed the government to place restrictions on gatherings until a law is passed in the Knesset next week.
He said this was based on a medical opinion that there is a danger in the gathering and following the understanding that the work of legislation will not end today.
"Before my eyes is first and foremost public health," Edelstein said. "I will not allow the risk of human life in gatherings at all or in demonstrations or in synagogues." 
“The opposition is acting irresponsibly at a time of national emergency,” the Likud charged, saying that it was not allowing the amendment to the law to move forward because of its “obsession to allow the demonstration festival."
The party called on Blue and White and the attorney-general to "act responsibly and immediately approve the emergency regulations."
"In this national emergency there is no room for petty politics,” the Likud said in a statement. “Although the demonstrations only help the Likud politically, they endanger public health and should therefore be stopped... Immediately approve the emergency regulations to save the lives of many Israelis."
Coalition chairman MK Miki Zohar (Likud) accused the opposition of causing a war.
"Because of the opposition we cannot pass the law that will prevent the demonstrations on Saturday,” he told KAN News. “People will see the thousands gathering in Balfour, and on Yom Kippur there will be mass prayers. It will be the biggest spread of the virus since the outbreak. The Second Yom Kippur War awaits us."
He said that “Anyone who claims that this is nonsense will be tried by the heavenly court.
But sources in Blue and White told Israeli media that "the Likud faction, led by Miki Zohar and under the direction of the prime minister, is undermining the struggle against coronavirus and for public health, and is trying to divert the discussion to an obsessive discourse on demonstrations."
"The decision on a stringent lockdown was designed to stop the spread of the virus, not to block protests or communal prayer," Blue and White leader Benny Gantz told his party members. "We will keep pushing the legislation within the rules of democratic process and will prevent using emergency regulations that are focused solely on protests, prayers, or any other specific target."
Yisrael Beytenu MK Eli Avidar expressed outrage at Zohar's comments, saying "Where did you get that from? Don't play with the deaths of people. You're sick."
Zohar responded that Avidar "is stupid."
MK Merav Michael (Labor) accused the committee of wasting time that could be better spent on developing an exit strategy, financial assistance plan or other needed support.
“But no,” she said, “Netanyahu and his envoys are working solely to eliminate democracy and to deny the right to demonstrate.”
Although restrictions on demonstrations did not pass, the leaders of the various protest groups announced that they would not hold a traditional, large-scale protest. Rather, they would demonstrate on Saturday night in thousands of centers according to the guidelines: up to a kilometer from home in capsules of 20, with masks and social distancing.
In addition, they will demonstrate in front of the prime minister's residence in a convoy of vehicles only.
On Thursday night, a protest against Netanyahu was held according to coronavirus guidelines in front of his residence on Balfour Street in Jerusalem to show that it can be done.


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Yuli Edelstein