The Opposition in Israel’s Knesset defeated a government-backed bill for the first time, as Otzma Yedudit members were absent.
The coalition’s traffic bill was defeated 21-20, the first time it has lost a vote on legislation since the current government was formed in 2022.
The coalition was defeated partly due to the absence of Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s party Otzma Yedudit.
Although there was speculation that Ben Gvir and his party were absent from the vote as a boycott in reference to recent disagreements with the government, the Security Minister said he was told his party didn’t need to attend and he claimed the Opposition violated an agreement by letting the vote go ahead in Otzma Yehudit’s absence.
Ben Gvir said, “It was agreed that the laws would be passed by consent only and that there was no obligation to show up.”
He added, “Unfortunately, the opposition violated the decision and took advantage of a situation in which only around 20 coalition MKs were present and voted to overturn the legislation.
