Kahana, who was an F-16 pilot in the air force, called the vote against his appointment “a small hit on the wing.”
Immediate punitive steps will be taken against former coalition chairwoman Idit Silman for her vote against the appointment of Yamina MK Matan Kahana as religious services minister, sources in the coalition said on Tuesday morning.
Silman cast the deciding vote against Kahana’s appointment late Monday night, in a vote that ended in a 55 to 55 tie. Possible steps include removing her from the chairmanship of the Knesset Health Committee and having the Knesset House Committee formally declare her a defector.
With that designation, she would not be able to run for the next Knesset with Likud or the Religious Zionist Party or be appointed a minister in the current Knesset if a new government is formed by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Silman proved with her actions that she does not see herself as part of the Yamina faction, and I believe there will be consequences in the future.
“MK Matan Kahana
“Silman proved with her actions that she does not see herself as part of the Yamina faction, and I believe there will be consequences in the future,” said Kahana, referring to her vote against him and campaigning against the West Bank emergency bill.
Kahana, who was an F-16 pilot in the air force, called the vote against his appointment “a small hit on the wing.”
Netanyahu tweeted “Silman, you’re a champ.” She was also praised by rebel MK Amichai Chikli.
The vote was turned into a vote of confidence in the government by the coalition in an effort to ensure coalition discipline and to prove Silman’s lack of loyalty.
Yamina division
Yamina is divided over whether to declare Silman a defector. The House Committee is chaired by Yamina faction chairman Nir Orbach, who is said to be wavering about whether to remain in the coalition.
Kahana quit the cabinet and returned to the Knesset last month via the Norwegian Law, in an effort to help Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the parliament. He was appointed deputy minister of religious services to keep on running his ministry.
The cabinet can appoint a deputy minister without Knesset approval but a ministerial appointment must be approved in the parliament, where the coalition lacks a majority if Silman votes against it.