Lapid Submits Bills for Declaration of Independence Basic Law and Term Limits
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid submitted new bills on Tuesday, including a Declaration of Independence Basic Law, an 8-year term limit for prime ministers, and civil unions, amid ongoing Knesset coalition negotiations.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid announced on Tuesday that he is submitting a series of legislative proposals, including a Basic Law: Declaration of Independence, a two-term limit for the prime minister, and a civil union bill.
According to Lapid, the civil union bill aims to establish equal rights for all couples in Israel regardless of sexual orientation, creating a new civil legal institution that will allow couples to register and form a legally recognized family framework. Regarding the Basic Law: Declaration of Independence, Lapid stated that the measure seeks to anchor the founding document as the first chapter of a future constitution for the State of Israel. The third bill aims to limit a prime minister's tenure to eight years.
"We will continue to be the voice of the liberal public in Israel in the Knesset and will work to mend the State of Israel," Lapid said as he signed the legislative proposals.
The bills are being submitted against the backdrop of the opening ceremony of the first Knesset session following the elections. This follows a request submitted to the Knesset secretariat signed by 67 members of parliament to hold an urgent debate and vote on electing a new Knesset speaker. The Yashar! faction, led by Gadi Eisenkot, submitted the request to incumbent Speaker Amir Ohana, formally presenting former minister and MK Matan Kahana as its candidate for speaker of the 26th Knesset, following an agreement among change bloc leaders.
Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism Chairman Yaakov Asher stated in an interview that his faction will not support a minority government backed by its votes. These remarks come amid ongoing coalition talks led by Gadi Eisenkot, which included a meeting between Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman and Eisenkot, following which both expressed confidence in forming a stable four-year government. At the same time, uncertainty remains regarding talks with ultra-Orthodox parties, with Shas sources expressing skepticism about joining an Eisenkot-led government.
