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Short thread on Health Minister @YuliEdelstein. In 2018, he declared (without irony) that “Israel was created by & for Benjamin Netanyahu, & as a homeland for the Netanyahuan people.” https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky/status/1046401622480322562
Despite this sort of supplication, Edelstein was long known as a hero & a statesman. He spent 3 years of his life doing hard labor in a Siberian penal colony for the crime of being a Soviet Jew. He performed ably as Speaker of the Knesset until March, 2020.
In March Edelstein scorched his reputation for decency by ignoring a Supreme Court ruling & refusing to convene the Knesset, a trick meant to help Netanyahu. "I don't care about being in contempt of court," he said. I respect the dictates of my conscience" https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky/status/1242806541134200832?s=20
President Rivlin said it was 'unthinkable' to defy the court after justices ordered His Defiant Speakership to allow a Benny Gantz-led majority to vote on his replacement. Chief Justice Esther Hayut accused him of undermining Israel's democracy. https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky/status/1242183586205388802?s=20
Its as close as Israel has ever come to a real usurpation of power. Then-DefMin Bennett said "of course" Edelstein couldn't ignore the Supreme Court. "We are a nation of laws. We're facing an unprecedented emergency. There's no time for nonsense." https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky/status/1242518782624628737?s=20
Edelstein clearly thought he was playing with monopoly money. He expected to regain his beloved seat as Knesset Speaker as soon as Netanyahu cobbled together the coalition with Gantz.
Didn't happen.
He'd become too toxic. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/S1M111tALU
Didn't happen.
He'd become too toxic. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/S1M111tALU
After defying a Supreme Court order he proceeded to trash the court, claiming, Bibi-like, that the judiciary was attempting a putsch. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-knesset-speaker-yuli-edelstein-reluctantly-resigns-1001323248
