A vote on a bill penalizing parties without women on their municipal lists did not take place on Monday, after MK Uri Maklev (United Torah Judaism) submitted 17 objections to the legislation.
The bill proposed by MKs Hanin Zoabi (Balad), Yifat Kariv (Yesh Atid) and Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women chairwoman Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid) was set to be authorized for its second and third (final) plenum readings when Maklev enacted the filibuster.
According to the legislation, municipal party lists that are at least one-third female will get an additional 15 percent in campaign funding. That addition would only be given eight months after the election, so that parties can't just put women on their lists for the extra money and make those women quit after they're voted in.
Maklev asked what happens if there is a rotation agreement and a woman only serves for part of her term. He also suggested only giving the extra funds after the women serve at least half of a term.
When Zoabi and Kariv accused Maklev of filibustering their bill, he responded that they were being unfair and that "this topic needs a much deeper discussion." Kariv expressed confidence that the bill will pass into law during the Knesset's current session, which ends in 10 days.
"This bill will increase female representation in the municipal arena. Half of taxpayers are women and they deserve to be represented," Kariv stated.
By LAHAV HARKOV