Yuli Edelstein draws a line in the sand If it is at all possible that that the anyone could generate the level of hatred the Left harbors for PM Benjamin Netanyahu, it would be former Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, who recently resigned from his post rather than comply with a High Court decision, compelling him to convene the Knesset plenary for the election of a new post-election Speaker to succeed him. As the government had not yet been formed, compliance with the court order could have well have precipitated an unprecedented—and intolerable—situation in which there would have been a parliamentary speaker opposed to the government coalition. In his defiance, Speaker Edelstein drew a much-needed line in the sand against judicial intrusion into the sphere of the legislature and thwarted yet another attempt at the usurpation of both its autonomy and authority. By his courageous and principled stance, he has contributed greatly to the defense of Israeli democracy, in general, and of the bed-rock democratic principle of separation of powers, in particular. His actions also foiled an egregious plot to set up a minority government dependent on the anti-Zionist, dominantly Arab Joint List, openly dedicated to the dismantling of Israel as the nation-state of the Jews, and associated with the country’s most virulent enemies. For this he deserves the nation’s praise and gratitude Dr. Martin Sherman, IISS