Yamina Wins Knesset Approval to Oust MK Chikli

The Knesset on Monday night ratified Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s decision to formally expel Amichai Shikli from the Yamina party, which Bennett heads.

The Knesset House Committee voted to declare Shikli a hostile defector by unanimous vote, 7 to 0, after an hours-long, acrimonious debate, in which he, supported by another Yamina renegade, MK Idit Silman, tried unsuccessfully to turn the tables on his accusers, contending that Bennett and his followers were the real defectors, having betrayed the right-wing principles of their constituents.

Chili’s lawyer Guy Busy argued that “an MK that leaves for ideological reasons but does not receive a benefit for it is not a defector,” challenging Yamina’s definition of a defector despite his active support for the opposition in recent months.

After the vote, Chikli said he intends to appeal the decision in the Yerushalayim District Court, but his expulsion from Yamina took effect immediately and will stand unless a court overrules the committee. As a result, he will be barred from running for the next Knesset with any current faction, including Likud, and will be ineligible for appointment as a minister or deputy minister in the current Knesset. 

“We are not the defectors,” Silman said at the hearing. “We are going with our promises, platform and values that we promised Yamina voters” – adding “better late than never.” Bennett has not yet sought Silman’s ouster, reportedly in hopes that she will reconsider and return to the party, which lost its majority in the Knesset when she left.

“Bennet, Shaked and their underlings did tremendous damage to Israeli democracy and to the public’s trust in their elected officials, and it will take years to recover from what they did,” Chikli charged. “It is an honor and obligation to oppose those who violated their promises out of greed for power. I am proud to stand here against the false promises of Bennett.”

Chikli concluded his remarks with the startling accusation that “Bennett has no God,” which brought applause from opposition MKs.

Making Yamina’s case against Chikli, Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana said that he voted against the coalition 754 times, including against the government’s formation and 651 times against the state budget. Kahana criticized Chikli for meeting with Netanyahu about running with Likud.

“He consistently voted against the faction, criticized the faction and worked against the faction,” Kahana said. “Practically, MK Chikli already left the faction. He said he will run with a different party. He already gave the faction a divorce.”

He dismissed Chikli’s statements about political differences with the party leadership, saying, “You left us because you cared about your political future,”  referring to consultations Chikli has held with Likud.