The Supreme Court of Israel ruled that Israel’s Parliament must elect a new speaker Thursday after Yuli Edelstein, speaker and ally to the Prime Minister, resigned on Wednesday over a disagreement with the legislative decisions of Parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Edelstein raised concerns with the operation of the Supreme Court, stating that democracy could be suffering during the pandemic and that his resignation would allow the opposing party to enact a law preventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a new government after the March elections.

In a statement, Edelstein accused the Supreme court of “gross and arrogant meddling” in legislative decisions. In the Knesset session, Edelstein expressed that leaving was not a “desire to be in contempt of court” but a moral objection to court order. Furthermore, he stated that he would have likely lost his seat once the legislature had gone ahead. The decision to resign was intended for his position to be replaced by an opponent member.