The Likud party on Tuesday evening sanctioned MK Yuli Edelstein for violating coalition discipline by not showing up for two key votes.

Edelstein, a senior member of the Likud who in the past tried to challenge Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for leadership of the party, failed to show up to the Knesset on Monday evening to vote for the first reading of the Override Clause, which limits the power of the Supreme Court to repeal laws, as well as the Incapacitation Law, which prevents the Attorney-General from declaring a prime minister as “incapacitated” [unfit for office], allowing only a majority Cabinet or Knesset vote to do so.

Both votes passed with a majority of 61 votes despite Edelstein’s absence.

Edelstein has spoken against advancing the judiciary reform without reaching an agreement with the opposition. However, the opposition has made no serious attempts to reach an agreement, refusing to even discuss the reform unless the coalition immediately halts all legislation on the issue – an unprecedented demand. As Education Minister Yoav Kisch said: “Legislation in the Knesset has never been halted as a condition for discourse. This is an unacceptable demand and harms the basis of democracy.”

Coalition whip and Likud party director MK Ofir Katz informed Edelstein that he is banned from submitting proposals or bills or speaking on behalf of the party for three weeks.

A senior coalition member slammed Edelstein for his absence, saying: “Edelstein is beginning to take steps toward the left, forgetting his voters who elected him. It’s unfortunate that he prefers kudos from the opposition over his loyalty to the national camp.”

Edelstein, who showed up at the Knesset after the votes and proposed a bill canceling part of the Disengagement Law, responded to the barb by stating sarcastically: “I’ve decided to take steps toward the left, and as a first step I intend to present my bill revoking the Disengagement Law to the Knesset.”

Edelstein’s bill, which states that the ban on entering and remaining in the evacuated area of northern Shomron will be overturned, passed in its first reading on Monday evening. The law specifies that the overturned ban will apply only to northern Shomron and not to Gaza.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)