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Israel’s incoming opposition parties have launched a legislative offensive in the new Knesset, introducing a series of bills targeting Benjamin Netanyahu’s legacy and promising to “repair the state of Israel”.
Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party and Yair Lapid’s Beyachad submitted proposals on Tuesday, the opening day of the 26th Knesset, including legislation to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre and impose an eight-year limit on any future prime minister's tenure.
The proposed inquiry would investigate the failures surrounding Hamas’s October 7 2023, attack, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
Lapid also introduced legislation to enshrine Israel’s Declaration of Independence in a “basic law”, as part of a proposed framework for a future constitution, and to establish civil partnerships allowing couples, regardless of sexual orientation, to register relationships outside the religious marriage system.
“We will continue to be the voice of Israel’s liberal public in the Knesset and work to repair the state of Israel,” Lapid said.
Yashar also wants to repeal several measures introduced by the outgoing Netanyahu government, including changes affecting the attorney-general, judicial system, police and broadcasting regulation.
The wider anti-Netanyahu bloc is considering establishing up to eight special parliamentary committees to accelerate the legislation.
However, the proposals must still pass multiple parliamentary readings and committee stages, and face potential opposition.
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