New MK Sets Up Protest Tent Outside Knesset Demanding Unity Government

By מערכת ice

Translated & summarized from Ice by baba

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Hebrew · 2 newsrooms covering

Freshman MK Elisha Madan, who lost his legs in Gaza combat, established a protest tent outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, demanding a broad unity government. He intends to stay day and night, calling for national unity to be reflected in parliament. His protest coincides with government formation talks, with reports suggesting Prime Minister Netanyahu supports his initiative. Madan's move follows a recent, widely applauded moment at his Knesset swearing-in ceremony.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

MK Elisha Madan launched a protest tent outside the Knesset demanding a unity government.
Madan lost both legs in combat in Gaza and intends to remain in the tent day and night.
His protest aims to bring the spirit of national unity seen during the war into parliament.
Dozens of citizens and MK Itamar Eitam have joined Madan's protest.
The protest occurs amid ongoing negotiations for a new government, reportedly with PM Netanyahu's support.

New MK Sets Up Protest Tent Outside Knesset Demanding Unity Government — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Just four days after being sworn into the 26th Knesset, freshman Member of Knesset Elisha Madan of the Likud party has established a protest tent outside the Knesset building in Jerusalem. Madan, who lost both his legs in combat in Gaza, set up the tent on Saturday night, calling for the formation of a broad unity government. He stated his intention to remain in the tent day and night, regardless of weather conditions, until such a government is established.

Madan explained in a video that he decided to "sit in the tent day and night, in the cold and the rain" to express the desire for unity felt by many Israelis. He invited the public to join him to discuss the need for national unity, emphasizing that the spirit of partnership seen during the war should extend to the parliament. The initiative quickly gained support, with dozens of citizens arriving to back Madan and five tents being set up. MK Itamar Eitam of the National Religious Party announced he would join Madan, urging other MKs to participate.

Madan's protest comes amid ongoing efforts to form a new government. According to political commentator Amit Segal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports Madan's move. Netanyahu had previously called on Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman Gadi Eisenkot to enter negotiations for a unity government without preconditions. However, Eisenkot dismissed the offer as a "spin," noting that negotiation teams had already scheduled a meeting.

Madan, 47, had a particularly moving moment during his swearing-in ceremony last Tuesday. Despite having lost his legs in an explosion in Beit Hanoun in November 2023, he insisted on standing on his prosthetic legs while taking the oath of allegiance, earning applause from across the political spectrum. The ceremony occurred exactly three years after the incident that killed four of his comrades. After a lengthy rehabilitation, Madan lit a torch on Israel's 77th Independence Day and was later placed on the Likud's list by Netanyahu. Now, less than a week into his political career, he aims to translate his post-injury message of unity into tangible political action.