Opposition files 9,000 amendments to prevent gov't forming

The opposition in the Knesset, led by Yesh Atid, filed more than 9,000 amendments to the government formation bill on Sunday in an attempt to filibuster and prevent a coalition from being formed by Thursday night's deadline. More than half of the amendments were filed by Yesh Atid MK Mickey Levy. The committee will meet in marathon sessions, because a representative of every Knesset faction will have a right to speak about every amendment before it is brought to a vote. If the bill is not passed by Thursday at midnight, Blue and White has said that they will not recommend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government. If that happens, Israel will go to a fourth election in August. Defense Minister and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett expressed frustration with the progress regarding coalition talks with Netanyahu in his online briefing on Sunday. Bennett spoke after his coalition talks with Netanyahu did not go well. 'We are not under the impression that we're being thought for, even though we want to be in the government,' he said. 'We could end up in the opposition, in which case we would support whatever the government does that is good and oppose every bad step.' Bennett warned that under Blue and White's incoming Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn, hundreds of left-wing judges would be appointed across the country. He also questioned whether Israel would apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) without Yamina in the government. Bennett said for the first time that he is interested in the Health Ministry portfolio, calling it a portfolio with a lot of influence. 'The prime minister must decide his priorities,' Bennett said. 'The ball is in Netanyahu's court.' Answering The Jerusalem Post about current education minister Rafi Peretz's invisibility while schools are reopening, he issued veiled criticism of the Yamina colleague. 'It is wrong to wait until the last minute in decision-making and to keep surprising people.'

Opposition files 9,000 amendments to prevent gov't forming

If the bill is not passed by Thursday at midnight, Israel is expected to go to a fourth election in August.

Ambassador marks mark 72 years of Thai-Israeli relations

Israel's successful ceasefire with Lebanon weakens Iran

Opposition files 9,000 amendments to prevent gov't forming

If the bill is not passed by Thursday at midnight, Israel is expected to go to a fourth election in August.

See more on