Nissan Slomiansky, chairman of the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, predicted that the controversial “expulsion law”, which would enable the Knesset to expel members for expressions of support for terrorism, would ultimately be enacted.
The Jewish Home MK expressed his optimism about the bill’s future just hours after cancelling a committee hearing on the subject.
“I think that at the end of the day, the law will be passed and with a comfortable majority, above 61 MKs,” Slomiansky said.
The legislation has created a firestorm of controversy, with President Reuven Rivlin claiming the law constituted a breach of democracy. The Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein (Likud), also expressed his opposition to the bill, stating that it would never reach the Knesset floor on his watch.
Slomiansky rejected the criticisms leveled against the bill, arguing that it was important for democracy to have “red lines”. “A terrorist cannot sit in the Knesset. No country would accept that,” he argued.
While he predicts the bill will pass, Slomiansky has made it clear the bill requires total support from every coalition member. As for this morning’s cancellation of the discussion on bill – just a temporary setback, he claims.
“I postponed the deliberations until Netanyahu returns from Berlin, so he can straighten things out in the Likud.”