Israeli opposition, captives' families outraged by Knesset recess
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The bill faces an uphill battle, requiring unlikely coalition support for expedited approval to nullify the recess.
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Israeli demonstrators call on the regime to secure the release of captives during a rally marking six months since the outbreak of "Israel's" genocidal campaign on Gaza, outside the Knesset, "Israel's" parliament, in occupied al-Quds, on April 7, 2024 (AP)
Tensions flared on Tuesday as opposition parties and relatives of captives expressed outrage over the upcoming three-month recess of the Knesset, scheduled to start at the end of the month and last until October 27.
The so-called National Unity party swiftly responded by submitting a legislative proposal aimed at scrapping the recess, arguing that crucial discussions on topics such as ultra-Orthodox military service, conscription extensions, and the rehabilitation of northern settlements are currently underway.
Israeli soldiers "are not going on vacation", and neither should our elected officials be, stated the party in a press release.
"Going on a three-month recess at this time — while 120 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas, thousands are still displaced from their homes, and thousands of men and women of the security forces are being called to serve and are forced to leave their homes, their families and their workplaces — harms government oversight during wartime, as well going against the public interest," the statement added.
Read more: 'Israel' used captives to kill, starve Palestinians: UN expert
The bill faces an uphill battle, requiring unlikely coalition support for expedited approval to nullify the recess.
This development follows a similar plea from Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer last week, urging Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to reconsider the recess.
Lawmakers "have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and do the minimum required to change the situation," Forer said.
"People fear the difficult security situation, which may further escalate, as well as the dire economic situation. More and more families are collapsing under the burden," he added in his letter to Ohana, noting that in such conditions "it is unacceptable for the Knesset to freeze its work, the committees to be silenced and the Knesset plenum to go into hibernation."
In response to mounting pressure, the Knesset House Committee decided that parliamentary committees can convene up to seven meetings during the break, with the Education, Culture, and Sports Committee allowed up to eight meetings in preparation for the new school year beginning September 1.
Given the ongoing war on Gaza, the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee will have unrestricted discussions.
Read more: Bahrain urges UNSC to pass ceasefire resolution for southern Lebanon
"My father has been in captivity for nine months, and you won't work for three months to bring him back," one of the captives' relatives said, as she called on lawmakers to prioritize their responsibilities over personal breaks.
As of now, 116 captives remain in Gaza, with the fate of some still unknown. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have confirmed the deaths of 42 captives, but have disregarded the fact that the vast majority of these deaths were caused by indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.
Previous deaths of captives were reported as a result of "Israel's" blockade on the entry of food and medicine into the Gaza Strip.
