The Israeli coalition suffered a significant legislative setback Monday after the Knesset rejected a bill that would have barred representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting imprisoned Hamas Nukhba terrorists and restricted the transfer of information to them.

The bill was defeated in its first reading by a vote of 41 to 36 after the chareidi parties boycotted the vote as part of their ongoing protest over the coalition’s failure to advance legislation they have demanded, including measures related to yeshiva students.

Ahead of the vote, Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz appealed to opposition lawmakers not to oppose the legislation, calling it “an extremely important law for Israel’s security.”

“If this law does not pass,” Katz warned, “the Nukhba terrorists will receive assistance.”

Shas officials said they had intended to support the bill but requested that the vote be postponed until Wednesday. They accused National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of insisting that the legislation be brought to the floor immediately despite the coalition dispute.

Ben Gvir rejected the criticism, arguing that delaying the vote would have rendered the legislation ineffective. He, in turn, accused Shas of “harming Israel’s security” by refusing to participate.

The bill’s defeat also sparked heated confrontations on the Knesset floor. During one exchange, tensions between MK Ayman Odeh and Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz escalated to the brink of a physical altercation before others intervened.

Under Knesset rules, the bill’s defeat means it cannot be brought back for another vote for six months, dealing a blow to the coalition’s legislative agenda while highlighting the growing rift between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s government and its chareidi coalition partners.

{Matzav.com}