Rotating Opposition Chairman
The Knesset opposition parties are growing more unanimous in
their opinion that the time has come to find a replacement
for Opposition Chairman MK Tomi Lapid. According to law the
post is held by the chairman of the largest opposition party
unless at least half of the opposition members sign a
petition and submit it to the Knesset chairman.
The job of opposition chairman is primarily an honorary
title, but it does carry a few responsibilities as well. The
opposition chairman is updated at least once a month by the
prime minister on policy and security matters, has a right to
deliver a speech every time the prime minister addresses the
Knesset and serves as a member of the Foreign Affairs and
Security Committee regardless of his party quota. He rides
around in a government car like a minister and gets a
prestigious space in the Knesset parking lot alongside the
spaces for the Knesset chairman and the prime minister, and
GSS bodyguards are assigned to protect him.
Shinui is currently the largest opposition party, which
automatically makes Tomi Lapid opposition chairman, even if
that does not please—to put it mildly—more than a
handful of opposition members.
The present opposition is comprised of parties with
dichotomous views on various issues. On most issues,
especially religion and policy matters, Shas, the NRP and
HaIchud HaLeumi stand on one side, with Shinui and Meretz on
the other. In economic affairs Meretz, Shas and the NRP seem
to have much in common while HaIchud HaLeumi tends to be
closer in line with Shinui. In security matters Shas and
Shinui can live with one another while Meretz leans more
toward the Arab parties.
When the opposition was set up Shas tried to torpedo Lapid's
appointment by gathering the signatures of a majority of
opposition members in favor of Eli Yishai, but Meretz refused
to sign despite the poor relations between Meretz and Shinui
and despite the fact that the appointment helps Shinui gain
political power at Meretz' expense.
In his very first speech as opposition chairman Lapid lashed
out against Shas, Meretz, Amir Peretz, the right and just
about everyone else except who the opposition chairman is
supposed to critique: the government and the coalition. At
that point Meretz realized what they were in for, but was
reluctant to dethrone Lapid due to fears of public censure
for ousting the epitome of "democracy and enlightenment" and
replacing him with a man from the Dark Ages, Eli Yishai. But
everybody knew sooner or later Meretz would not be able to
stand Lapid's big mouth any more.
That time came towards the end of the Winter Session when
Lapid ruthlessly descended on Meretz Chairwoman Z. Gal-On
using language unfit for print. Meretz was astonished to hear
that Lapid was capable of descending to such depths. Lapid
later apologized but apparently Meretz realizes the time has
come to do away with him regardless of the backlash they are
liable to receive from a portion of the "enlightened"
public.
Meretz also found Shinui's NIS 700-million deal with Sharon
repulsive. Meretz, too, was planning all along to support the
budget if Sharon could not muster a majority, but they never
considered extorting nearly a billion shekels from the public
coffers.
Still granting the post to Shas would not be perceived
favorably by its constituents so Meretz demanded a rotation
agreement in which the time until the next elections would be
split evenly between the two parties. Shas accepted the idea
in principle, but added a twist: all opposition parties
(except of course Shinui) would join forces to oust Lapid and
then the post would be shared by all based on the size of the
party.
For instance, if 520 days remained until the next elections
Shas with its 11 MKs would receive the post for 135 days,
Meretz with its six MKs for 74 days, etc. Even the United
Arab List would receive 24 days, a detail that would make the
plan more amenable to Meretz supporters.
If the plan takes effect it will be interested to see and
hear the Prime Minister's monthly updates to Mohammad Barakeh
or Azmi Bishara as well as the reactions when they take their
seats as voting members of the Foreign Affairs and Security
Committee.
