The Knesset passed Monday the gas framework agreement with a 59-51 majority. However, the vote on the transfer of powers from Minister of Economy Aryeh Deri to the government was split into a separate vote that will not be held today.
The framework was supported by MKs from the Likud, Yisrael Beytenu, Kulanu, HaBayit HaYehudi, Shas, and United Torah Judaism. The vote was opposed by Yesh Atid, the Joint Arab List, the Zionist Union, and Meretz.
There were several high-profile abstentions: Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman; Kulanu ministers Moshe Kahlon and Yoav Galant; Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid and MK Yaakov Peri; HaBayit HaYehudi head Naftali Bennett; and Likud ministers Yisrael and Haim Katz and MK Benny Begin.
Efforts to wrangle a majority to approve the transfer of authority to bypass the regulator from Deri to the government have not stopped, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unable to whip up the necessary support falling one voice shy.
Without the follow-up vote, the Knesset's approval of the gas framework becomes merely symbolic and does not legally have to be brought to a vote of the full plenum.
Throughout the day, Netanyahu's people pressured Minister of Welfare Haim Katz, who said he would abstain from the plenum vote on the deal due to his ties to gas tycoon Koby Maimon. Katz was asked to support the transfer of authority to the government, but coalition officials believed that he was unlikely to acquiesce to their requests.
Kulanu faction members convened at noon to decide their next steps. During the discussion, they decided that the entire delegation, without Kahlon and Galant, due to conflicts of interest would vote in line with the government on the framework agreement and on the transfer of powers.
Meanwhile, talks were held throughout the day with Lapid, currently abroad to convince him to throw his support behind the transfer of authority. Lapid told the coalition officials that he was expecting a call from the prime minister. No agreements have been reached yet.
Lapid was absent to offset the absence of Bennett, who is sitting shiva after his father's passing.
Another such deal was struck between Likud MK Benny Begin and Yesh Atid's Haim Yellin.
There was pressure on Yisrael Beytenu's delegates to support the deal, despite Liberman, abstaining by being abroad after agreeing to offset another MK and MK Orly Levy-Abekasis opposing the framework. The four remaining faction members supported the first vote, but were not expected to support the crucial follow-up vote.
If the second vote is not passed, Netanyahu has a few options left to advance the deal:
- Pressure Deri to approve the framework though the Shas leader is unlikely to agree.
- Invoke a draconian law which grants the government the ability to force Deri to accept the decision though the likelihood that the clause would be activated is close to nil.
- Wait for a new director-general of the Antitrust Authority yet to be named to approve the agreement.
Officials close to the prime minister are still seeking other options.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 7, 2015
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