For the first time since the 2015 elections, the Israeli political opposition has begun to show signs of life, reminding the public what a real parliamentary battle looks like. A successful joint effort by the Zionist Camp and Yesh Atid in the last few days resulted in the longest filibuster in Knesset history. Although the Recommendations law might still ultimately pass, the opposition's defeat following the filibuster was honorable. It was yet another sign that the opposition parties realize that 2018 will be a year of important political decisions, and perhaps, an election year as well.

One month ago, on Nov. 27, the opposition reached the lowest point in its history when 17 members absented themselves during the first reading and late-night vote on the original iteration of the Recommendations law. It was a terrible image for the opposition, perhaps the worst in Israel's history. There may be no symbol more emblematic of the Likud government's predatory abandon and alienation than this law, yet the opposition raised the white flag of surrender without even a fight.

The original version of the legislation, presented by Knesset member David Amsalem, was intended to help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu face down the criminal investigations into his affairs by prohibiting the police from releasing their recommendations on indictment at the end of the investigation. This would give Netanyahu many months free from the public actually knowing whether the police are recommending his indictment (and it looks like they will).

The magnitude of the opposition's failure became apparent after the law passed the first reading in a vote of 46-37. Many opposition members stayed away as a courtesy to coalition members who could not be in attendance — they were attending the Saban Forum in Washington — thus balancing out coalition absentees. Put differently, they abandoned their duty.