Many feel that seven deputy Knesset speakers is a luxury that is not required but obviously, lawmakers in Israel do not agree. On Monday, an eighth deputy speaker was appointed, this time the candidate will come from the National Union Party.

In actuality, MK (Ta’al) Dr. Ahmed Tibi was to step down as a deputy speaker after two years, permitting another MK to enter into the rotation, but Speaker Dalia Itzik and others felt that this would not be a prudent step since they are determined to keep a representative of the Arab community in the deputy slot. As such, Tibi stay and does not have to rotate.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)