After its spring recess, the 19th Knesset will convene on Monday for the start of its summer session. Opposition parties were expected to present seven no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Monday, focusing on the economic crisis and the budget deficit of more than 40 billion shekels ($11 billion). In its no-confidence motion, the Labor party said a government "with no message or vision in the social, economic and diplomatic realms endangers Israel's democratic character." In their joint no-confidence motion, the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties hammered the current government for "its intention to harm the middle and lower classes and cut child allowances." The governing coalition, with 68 MKs, will have no trouble brushing off the no-confidence motions of the opposition, which has only 52 MKs. Party leaders in both the coalition and opposition expect a turbulent summer session during which debate will center on passing a state budget, cutting the deficit and equalizing the enlistment burden. Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis (Likud), the liaison between the government and the Knesset, said he expected the coalition would face more difficulties from the opposition than it did in the previous Knesset. "We'll have to be vigilant," Akunis said. Coalition Chairman Yariv Levin (Likud) expressed a similar expectation. "Today, there is a strong opposition with 52 MKs, containing a mix of veterans and newcomers, which is returning from the spring recess with much fighting spirit," Levin said. Levin said the opposition parties are divided on diplomatic and defense issues, but are largely united on economic and social issues. He expects tough work for the coalition on the Knesset floor and the coalition will have to rely on Yesh Atid MKs with no prior Knesset experience. Akunis said coalition members will have to show strong discipline and be present at all Knesset proceedings. Yesh Atid MK Ofer Shelah thinks the coalition will be able to advance the issues that are important to it, mainly the budget and an equal enlistment law, despite the presence of large and cohesive opposition. "It is true that all [Yesh Atid] MKs are new and have yet to gain experience, but we are a party without internal rivalries," Shelah said. "We will exhibit strong party discipline." Labor leader Shelly Yachimovich is optimistic about the opposition's ability to win battles over the budget and other economic issues. "The opposition has an advantage because it has seasoned parliamentarians and those who aren't seasoned have arrived at the Knesset with a gleam in their eyes," Yachimovich said. "This is a good starting point for us." Yachimovich also expects that Yesh Atid MKs won't show blind obedience to their party leader Yair Lapid "who wasn't elected democratically" and that they won't "raise their hands against the people they're supposed to represent." Yachimovich said opposition party leaders have agreed to coordinate with each other. "On certain issues, we can unite on an ad hoc basis against the government," Yachimovich said. Yachimovich did say, however, that the opposition wouldn't automatically say no to every government initiative. "If the government does good things, we will certainly support it," Yachimovich said. "We will also give the government support for any progress in the diplomatic realm." MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), the former head of the Knesset Finance Committee, said he intends to present bills based on the principles of the Yesh Atid party and that "it'll be interesting to see how members [of Yesh Atid] will vote." "All experienced MKs are in the opposition and they know all the tricks," Gafni said. "All of the inexperienced MKs are in the coalition, which means we [the opposition] have a chance in our battle." Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On expects the opposition will make life miserable for the government. "I'm not deluding myself that we'll thwart all the government's plans, because if the coalition acts with strong discipline, it will always have a majority in the Knesset, unless there are defectors from the coalition that support our positions," Gal-On said. "While the opposition isn't homogenous, it'll be able to work together on socioeconomic issues. On diplomatic issues, this will be much tougher."
