Earlier in the week, the Ichud Leumi Council convened to discuss issues pertaining to government policy and decisions made by Prime Minister Binyamin NEtanyahu, primarily the announced construction freeze in Yehuda and Shomron. The council decided that sanctions are in order.

Ichud Leumi faction leader Minister of Agriculture (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel on Sunday walked out of the plenum during votes on government bills in an act of protest, Walla News reports.

Ariel�s absence placed the coalition�s majority in the plenum in jeopardy and the prime minister sent his people to bring Ariel back. Ariel�s aide explained that the minister went for an ice cream break.

What really elicited Ariel�s ire was the fact that the transfer of Sheirut Leumi from the Minister of Senior Citizen Affairs to Ariel�s Ministry of Agriculture was removed from the agenda as Minister of Tourism (Likud) Yariv Levin forgot to bring the required documents.

However the bottom line is that after there were pleas from Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein for Ariel to return, the minister complied and the session continued.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)