JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Knesset approved the "Mofaz law," making it easier for lawmakers to break away from their parties.
The bill was adopted Monday on second and third reading by a vote of 60 to 43.
The vote, which came during a special session called during the Israeli parliament’s summer recess, had been delayed two days due to a filibuster by the opposition Kadima Party.
The measure lowers the number of lawmakers needed to split off a party from one-third to seven in parties with more than 21 Knesset members.
The law was dubbed the Mofaz law since it could enable Kadima’s No. 2 man, Shaul Mofaz, to defect with several other right-leaning Kadima lawmakers and join Likud’s ruling coalition.
.
