Meretz chairwoman MK Tamar Zandberg is urging the Blue and White faction to support a constructive vote of no confidence that would propose not only an alternative prime minister, but a complete alternative cabinet. If a vote of that type were to pass, it would push out Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and prevent a fourth election.
A constructive no-confidence measure must name the MKs that would be part of the new government, which MKs will hold which cabinet portfolios, and also explain the alternate government's basic platform.
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On Monday, the opposition factions are scheduled to present the "constructive" no-confidence vote to the Knesset plenum. If a majority of 61 MKs vote in favor of it, the current government will be cancelled but the Knesset will not dissolve itself.
The law stipulates that a constructive no-confidence measure must name the candidate to serve as prime minister. In this case, it would mean that members of Blue and White would have to support Opposition leader Yair Lapid for prime minister, or that Lapid would have to throw his support behind Blue and White leader Benny Gantz. The latter possibility appears unlikely, as relations between the former partners have soured since Gantz joined Netanyahu's government.
For the no-confidence measure to succeed, it would need not only the support of Blue and White and Yesh Atid, but also Zvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel of Derech Eretz; the Joint Arab List; Yisrael Beytenu; and Labor-Meretz. If Yamina decided to vote for the measure, it would have a 68-MK majority.
Zandberg said Sturday that "there is another chance for a different government in this Knesset, so I am calling on Blue and White to support the no-confidence measures that the Opposition factions will be presenting, and establishment a [different] government through a constructive no-confidence measure. I'm certain that Blue and White now understand that they made a serious mistake when they chose to neglect their natural bloc and make a deal with a criminal. Nevertheless, it's still not too late."
"Rather than drag Israel into a fourth election in under two years, we can establish a different government in Israel. A better government that could pass a budget and address the problems of the Israeli people rather than waging war on them," Zandberg said.
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