It is not a rare occurrence for Members of Knesset to direct a query at a cabinet minister and the latter prefers to have another minister respond. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein feels the time has come to put an end to this.

Edelstein is responding to complaints that ministers are not appearing in the Knesset plenum to respond to queries as they should. As such, Edelstein has announced that until this order is rescinded, only the minister to whom a query has been directed may respond to the MK.

Edelstein makes it clear, that another minister cannot fill in to respond on behalf of another. If a minister does not respond the cabinet will not be permitted to respond in his place and the Knesset Presidency will have to weigh what actions to take against the minister.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)