Lawmaker Pitches Unity Government by Camping Outside Knesset

By דודי גרליץ

Translated & summarized from JDN by baba

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Member of Knesset Elisha Yishai Madan has set up a tent outside the Knesset to call for a broad national unity government. Madan, who lost his legs in Gaza in November 2023, seeks to bring wartime solidarity into politics. His protest follows his recent swearing-in and a public display of resilience at the ceremony. The move occurs amid ongoing coalition formation talks between various parties.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

MK Elisha Yishai Madan is camping outside the Knesset to demand a national unity government.
Madan lost both legs in Gaza in November 2023 during operational activity.
He was sworn into the 26th Knesset recently after a long recovery.
Madan aims to foster wartime solidarity within the political system.
His protest coincides with ongoing coalition formation discussions.

Member of Knesset Elisha Yishai Madan, representing the Likud party, announced on social media that he is setting up a tent outside the Knesset building to advocate for the establishment of a broad national unity government. Madan stated his intention is to bring the spirit of solidarity seen in Israeli society during the war years into the political arena, emphasizing the need for the "house of representatives" to reflect this unity.

Madan's call comes shortly after he was sworn into the 26th Knesset. He was placed in the 15th spot on the Likud list by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and recently completed a lengthy rehabilitation process. On November 10, 2023, Madan was critically injured by an explosive device in a tunnel shaft near Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, losing both his legs in an incident that also claimed the lives of four comrades.

During the Knesset swearing-in ceremony this week, exactly three years after the battle in which he was wounded, Madan stood on prosthetic legs to take his oath, despite pain, to applause from all members. He had previously conveyed a message calling for a broad government uniting the nation, and now he is escalating his appeal into a direct protest and dialogue action outside the parliament.