An embarassed Knesset moved hastily today to ram through an amendment to the election law that the Supreme Court ruled was not valid when it was passed originally last month. The amendment severely limits the amount of broadcast time allowed new political parties that have not previously run in Knesset elections.
The major parties — Likud, Labor and the National Religious Party — with a common interest in the amendement joined forces to draft a new bill and rush it through the three readings required by law. It was adopted by a 61-plus majority. The high court had invalidated the earlier measure because it was passed with a majority of fewer than 61 votes.
As a gesture to the 24 new lists competing in the June 30 elections, the major parties agreed to increase their air time from eight to 10 minutes. The established parties are allowed to electioneer on the air waves for up to 45 minutes a day in prime time on every day until one day before the elections.
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