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Israeli opposition on the attack

The Labor Party and Yesh Atid finally looked like an actual opposition in joining forces against legislation advanced by the right-wing governing coalition.
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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.

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