Sharon's gov't survives 5 no-confidence votes

Israeli government survived five no-confidence motions in the Knesset (parliament) on Monday afternoon, including those filed by potential coalition partners Labor and United Torah Judaism (UTI).

Motions filed by Labor, Yahad and UTJ targeted the government's social and economic policies. Shas filed a motion on the common-law partners legislation, and Balad called a no-confidence vote on policy in the territories.

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said Sunday that the opposition may present a no-confidence motion against the government during the Knesset recess if 61 out of 120 Knesset members support it.

Last week Rivlin rejected the opinion of former Knesset legal adviser Zvi Inbar, that there is no reason to prevent presenting no-confidence motions during recess. He said that the accepted practice was not to present no-confidence motions during recess.

Asked what he would do if the opposition asks to turn the disengagement debate, due on Wednesday, into a no-confidence vote, Rivlin said: "If the cabinet wishes to see it as a confidence vote, the vote will be held immediately. If it doesn't, the vote will take place after the recess, unless I receive 61 MKs' votes."

The Knesset's summer recess begins on Wednesday and lasts until mid-October.

Source: Xinhua