The Knesset is barely working, new MKs will receive at least 676 thousand shekels
The Knesset will pay at least 676 thousand shekels to six new MKs who will enter the Knesset during a period when it is in election recess. During this time, parliamentary activity is almost non-existent.
The Knesset will pay at least 676 thousand shekels to six new MKs who will enter the Knesset during a period when it is in election recess and the plenum and committees are barely meeting. Although incumbent Knesset members also continue to receive salaries during the recess, in the case of the new MKs, it is an exceptionally short term, which is unlikely to allow them to promote significant parliamentary moves. Furthermore, the chances of the new MKs continuing to the next Knesset are low.
In addition, a new MK is not required during the first six months of their term to resign from their previous job, so those who enter the Knesset in the coming months will be able, in relevant cases, to continue their work while receiving a salary and benefits from the Knesset. Alongside this, the new MKs will not be permanent members of committees, which are barely meeting anyway.
MK Yoav Segalovitz (Yesh Atid) submitted his resignation today to the Knesset Speaker, in light of his expected move to the Ra'am party. In his place, Michal Salvani-Kababia will automatically enter the Knesset the day after tomorrow. An MK who leaves their party and moves to another list running in the election is required to resign by the time the lists are submitted to the Central Elections Committee on September 8. Salvani-Kababia will serve until the establishment of the 26th Knesset on November 10. During this period, the Knesset is in election recess, and the committees and the plenum are barely meeting. It turns out that she will receive a salary for about three months of service, in a cumulative amount of about 157 thousand shekels gross, even though her ability to carry out significant parliamentary activity during this short period is very limited. Likewise, she will receive reimbursement for food and clothing expenses, and will be entitled to pension contributions for her term of office. She will be able to employ three parliamentary advisors and will receive a leased vehicle.
Five more incumbent MKs - Dan Illouz, Yuli Edelstein, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Chili Tropper, and Sharren Haskel - are expected to resign by September 8, and in their place, five new MKs will enter who will receive salary and benefits during the recess for about two months. This amounts to 104 thousand shekels for each new MK (for two months of service). In other words, the Knesset will pay them at least 520 thousand shekels. It should be noted that all six new MKs will not receive adjustment grants, which stand at 52 thousand shekels for each year of service (up to 312 thousand shekels), since this requires at least one year of service.
Last week, MK Dan Illouz (Likud) announced his move to the Yisrael Beiteinu party. As a result, he intends to resign from the Knesset soon, and in his place, Shabtai Katash, a social activist and Chabad Hasid, will enter the Knesset. Yuli Edelstein, who left Likud and is running with Gilad Erdan, is also expected to resign soon. Farkash-Hacohen, who joined the Yashar! party of Gadi Eisenkot, and Tropper, who joined the reservists' party of Yoaz Hendel, have also not yet resigned from the Knesset because they ran as part of the National Unity (Mahane Mamlakhti) in a joint list with the New Right (Yamin Mamlakhti) led by Gideon Sa'ar. Since Sa'ar joined Likud, they did not resign so that MKs from the New Right list would not enter in their place, thereby strengthening the coalition. Also, MK Sharren Haskel established a new party and will not run with the New Right in the upcoming elections, and she is also expected to resign.
In the Knesset, it is estimated that MK Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid) may join Gadi Eisenkot's party and MK Yaron Levy (Yesh Atid) may be reserved in Likud. If this happens, they will have to resign by the beginning of September, and in their place, new MKs will enter who will not work hard during the election recess. In the event that Stern and Levy resign and new MKs enter in their place, the cost to the Knesset will reach another 208 thousand shekels (two monthly salaries for each new MK).
