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Repeal of Election Law Proposed

June 26, 1996
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Three lawmakers have asked the Knesset to revoke the law for the direct election of the prime minister.

Labor Knesset members Moshe Shahal and Yossi Beilin and Likud Knesset member Uzi Landau this week submitted bills.

The three parliamentarians said the law gives smaller political parties exaggerated power in the Knesset.

In the May elections, Israelis directly voted for prime minister for the first time, casting separate ballots for political parties in the Knesset race.

As a result, smaller parties increased their representation in the Parliament, while both the Labor and Likud parties saw their representation drop significantly.

The bills propose that the head of the party that wins the most votes will automatically be chosen prime minister.

Landau, who is expected to be the head of the key Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said he consulted with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before deciding to submit the bill.

All three legislators have in the past opposed the direct election law.

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