Coalition attempts to move bill to disperse Knesset away from Orbach-led committee

Forces in the current coalition are attempting to have two pieces of legislation — to disperse the Knesset ahead of a new election and to bar anyone indicted on a serious criminal offense from being prime minister — from the Knesset House Committee led by Yamina MK Nir Orbach to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee headed by Labor MK Gilad Kariv.

Coalition MKs initially claimed that the legislation would be brought up in a hearing in the committee on Sunday morning.

But the Knesset legal adviser quickly notes in response that it remains in doubt whether or not the Kariv-led committee has the legal jurisdiction to consider such legislation.

In addition, the legal adviser notes, such a move is not necessary “as long as the House Committee head is not delaying the legislation.”

Orbach told Prime Minister Naftali Bennett recently that he no longer views himself as a member of the coalition, and he is reportedly exploring the possibility of joining Likud in a new government without the need for a new election, an outcome the outgoing coalition wants to avoid.

In a statement, Kariv says that “the Israeli public cannot be held captive by political exercises,” adding that if the Knesset House Committee “does not advance the process with the required speed, we will do so via the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.”