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| - Israel's right-wing parties backing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they would boycott the re-opening of parliament Monday to protest what they called the "dictatorial" conduct of their centrist rivals. The dramatic move came after a year of political turmoil that saw three inconclusive elections, and as Netanyahu has imposed strict legal and security measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party accused the centrist Blue and White, led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz, of breaching standard practice in the parliament, or Knesset, following March 2 elections. The row centred on whether Gantz would use his bloc's slight majority of MPs to shape the composition of a powerful parliamentary committee. Likud, noting the "severe health crisis" -- with 1,238 confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel -- accused Blue and White of "hate-driven, dictatorial and destructive conduct". The election early this month saw the anti-Netanyahu parties claim a narrow lead of 62 seats. Right-wing and ultra-Orthodox factions that back the caretaker premier claimed 58. Gantz was last week tasked with forming a government, something that had proved impossible following the last two votes given deep divisions within the anti-Netanyahu camp. There was no guarantee Gantz would fare better this time. Monday's angry spat centred on the key arrangements committee, which is responsible for forming other parliamentary committees. When the new Knesset was sworn in last Monday, lawmakers failed to agree on the composition on the committee, which is traditionally formed through negotiated consensus among different Knesset factions. But Blue and White declared it would put the committee's make-up to a majority vote. That triggered outrage on the right, who accused Blue and White of seeking to force through its anti-Netanyahu agenda amid an unprecedented health crisis. Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein, a Likud member and Netanyahu ally, scheduled a plenum session on Monday to vote on the arrangements committee. Hours before the chamber was due to re-open, Likud announced its boycott. Netanyahu's party charged that "in all the years of Israel's existence and the 22 previous Knessets, there has never been a situation in which the arrangements and other committees were brought to plenary votes without agreements". "The Likud and (its allies) have decided to boycott the plenum discussions and not take part in this disgraceful process," a Likud statement said. Netanyahu has repeatedly called for Gantz to join him in a unity government, with the premier's job rotating between them, and President Reuven Rivlin has backed such calls amid the pandemic. Israel has imposed severe restrictions to contain coronavirus, including banning non-essential movements. Netanyahu had also enlisted the Shin Bet internal security agency to track possible virus carriers through their mobile phones -- without a court order. That move triggered outrage over alleged national security over-reach, with the supreme court ruling last week such surveillance could not go ahead without Knesset oversight. The committee tasked with overseeing the Shin Bet, the foreign and defence committee, was scheduled to be formed following the Knesset's re-opening on Monday. Likud has also accused Blue and White of trying to hastily replace Edelstein as speaker, arguing the speaker should be chosen only after a government is formed. Blue and White asked the supreme court to weigh in. In non-binding guidance published Monday, judges told Edelstein to schedule a vote for a new speaker by Wednesday. Netanyahu is also facing criminal corruptions charges, allegations he denies, but which could soon leave him vulnerable: MPs who oppose him have backed legislation that would bar anyone under criminal indictment from serving as prime minister. jjm/bs/scw/fz
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