In a dramatic turn of events, the six Members of Knesset (MKs) from the Otzma Yehudit party staged a boycott of the Knesset plenum on Wednesday morning. This boycott comes in the wake of a significant uproar within the coalition, following a highly contentious visit to the Temple Mount by two of the party's ministers—National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir and Negev and Galilee Minister MK Yizhak Wasserlauf. This visit drew sharp criticism from the prime minister and several coalition members.

Opposition Capitalizes on Coalition's Turmoil

The absence of Otzma Yehudit’s MKs had immediate repercussions. In a striking political maneuver, the opposition succeeded in defeating a bill in the plenum by a narrow 21-20 vote. Recognizing the precariousness of their majority, the government was compelled to withdraw the next three bills from the plenum's agenda, further highlighting the coalition’s vulnerability.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says Jewish prayer is allowed on the Temple Mount, with worshipers prostrating in violation of the status quo – leading Netanyahu and other politicians, as well as Jordan and Egypt, to condemn Ben Gvir's visit to the sacred site pic.twitter.com/v2YvphwrfO

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) August 13, 2024

Otzma Yehudit's Defense: Alleged Breach of Agreement

In response to the boycott, Otzma Yehudit issued a statement clarifying that their absence was not an outright boycott. According to the party, there had been an agreement between the coalition and the opposition that all bills presented on Wednesday would receive bipartisan support, allowing the MKs to be excused from attending. Otzma Yehudit accused the opposition of reneging on this agreement, choosing instead to oppose the bills, which led to the current debacle.

Conflicting Reports on Permission to Excuse Themselves

However, KAN's political correspondent Michael Shemesh reported a different story. According to Shemesh, Otzma Yehudit MKs were only allowed to be absent if opposition members agreed to offset their absence. This crucial condition was not met, as no opposition members consented to offset Otzma Yehudit, leaving the party’s MKs unjustifiably absent.

🚨🚨Blinken issues a very strong statement against Israeli ultranationalist minister of national security Ben Gvir after his visit to the Temple Mount\Haram a-Sharif compound today: "We will look to the Government of Israel to prevent similar incidents in the future" pic.twitter.com/HyU9lOWXe5

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 13, 2024

Temple Mount Visit: A Flashpoint of Contention

The controversy stems from Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount on Tuesday, which was ostensibly to honor Tisha B’Av, a fast day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temple. Ben-Gvir declared that the status quo at the site had changed, stating that Jews were now permitted to pray there. This declaration is particularly explosive given the Temple Mount’s significance as a holy site for Muslims globally, with security officials warning that such a shift could incite violence.

The Prime Minister's Office swiftly condemned Ben-Gvir's comments, emphasizing that the minister does not have the authority to unilaterally alter the site's policies.

Religious and Political Fallout

Ben-Gvir’s visit also sparked religious controversy. Ultra-Orthodox leaders traditionally oppose visits to the Temple Mount based on halakhic (Jewish law) rulings regarding its sanctity. Consequently, ministers and MKs from the coalition's ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, lambasted Ben-Gvir’s actions. Officials from these parties even suggested reevaluating their coalition partnership with Otzma Yehudit.

Opposition's Scathing Critique

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid seized the moment, declaring from the plenum dais, "If you want to know how governments disintegrate and coalitions fall, it is this. Exactly this." The National Unity party echoed these sentiments, labeling the coalition as a disjointed collection of individuals driven by petty political motives, vowing to continue their efforts to topple the government.

Live update: Opposition defeats coalition-backed bill for the first time, after Otzma Yehudit lawmakers fail to show up https://t.co/cMohZ09fv8

— ToI ALERTS (@TOIAlerts) August 14, 2024

Knesset's Legislative Schedule in Disarray

The Knesset had officially concluded its summer session on July 28 but reconvened on August 4 and August 5. Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana announced that the next session would commence on October 28. Despite this, the coalition decided to convene once more this week. Given the forced removal of legislation from Wednesday's agenda, it is likely that the plenum will reconvene again soon, further illustrating the coalition's current instability.

In summary, the Otzma Yehudit boycott has not only exposed fractures within the coalition but has also underscored the volatile interplay of politics and religious sensitivities surrounding the Temple Mount. The fallout from this episode is poised to shape the political landscape in the weeks and months to come.