New law would prohibit serving members from going to the coalition

A new law would prevent incumbent legislators from switching to other political parties thanks to the efforts of rebel Zionist Union MP Robert Tivaev to join the coalition to expand his narrow majority in the Knesset.

According to the law promoted by the MP of the Zionist Union Leah Fadida, lawmakers who have already announced their decision to separate from the party before joining the Knesset will not be allowed to sit in parliament for their faction. The rebel deputies would be forced to wait after the next elections to represent their faction in the Knesset.

"The purpose of the amendment is to resolve an absurd situation in which a faction of the Knesset is forced to accept a member who no longer substantially belongs to it, whereas the only element that binds the two parties is the dry wording of the law, "said Fadida.

The legislation comes as the Zionist Union deputy, Robert Tivaev, tries to join the ruling coalition in exchange for his appointment to the position of Minister of Absorption. Tivaev, who had replaced former MP Zuheir Bahloul, had already left the party before Bahloul resigned, but had replaced him in the Knesset because of the laws in force.

With a narrow majority of 61 votes, the coalition needs all the votes possible to pbad a law and the absence of discrimination of the coalition by Taviev has already allowed the pbadage of a bill .

The Zionist Union has already punished Tiviaev for his parliamentary activity after his absence from the Knesset in Wednesday's vote.

Tiviaev was outside the plenum when the bill of the Zionist Union deputy Itzik Shmuli, aimed at equalizing old-age pensions at the minimum wage, was put to the vote. In his defense, Tiviaev claimed on his Twitter account that he was at an important meeting during the vote.

If, during the next month, MK Tiviaev behaves like a team player and in accordance with the positions of the faction, the sanctions will be removed. If he acts against the faction, the sanctions will be strengthened, "said the party.