Jeremy's Knesset Insider

Last Wednesday’s session lasted about five and a half hours. Ten bills were discussed. Five bills were advanced after passing their preliminary readings, two were pulled to avoid defeat and three were defeated. The bills advanced involve the assets of holocaust victims, investment advisors, children orphaned as a result of a terrorist attack, presenting political party reports and consumer protection. The unusually short Wednesday session was the result of Deputy Speaker Whbee deliberately skipping the last few items on the agenda.

Non-Bills Summary

• Interior Minister Yishai (Shas), Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.) and Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon (Likud) answered urgent queries at the beginning of the session.
• Six motions were discussed, passed and sent for further discussion in committee by the votes 9-0, 8-0, 9-0, 13-0, 6-3 and 7-0.
• Deputy Speaker Whbee (Kadima) chose to skip a few motions and five MKs’ queries because the MKs were not present in the room. MK Ben Ari (N.U.), who missed his name call by less than 30 seconds, asked to have Justice Minister Neeman answer his query or at least give him the written answer. Whbee refused and closed the session unusually early for a Wednesday. Several MKs were upset about the speed at which Whbee went through the last items on the agenda without much warning. MKs Shai (Kadima) and Adatto (Kadima) complained that their motions were passed over.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Assets of Holocaust Victims Bill

MK Orlev (J.H.) explained his amendment will require that funds allocated to the families of Holocaust victims be put into an endowment or restitution for Holocaust remembrance purposes if the family has not already used the money. He explained the bill will also use all assets that were not claimed by an heir for the same purposes, including giving money to private institutions such as Yad Vashem.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 18-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Amendment to the Regulation of Investment Counseling, Investment Marketing and Portfolio Management Bill

MK Amnon Cohen (Shas) explained his amendment would regulate the rules for investment advisors and prohibit conflicts of interest.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 20-0 and was sent to the Funds Committee.

Amendment to the Hostility Victims Compensation Bill

MK Orlev explained his amendment would grant orphans their parents’ full pensions in the event that both parents are killed in a terrorist attack. He explained he realized this issue was occurring when he was Labor and Welfare Minister during the second intifada and stressed his bill will correct the injustice. He thanked his co-sponsor MK Itzik (Kadima) and the 22 families (70-80 people) who will benefit from this bill.

Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon (Likud) expressed government support for the bill and said he personally will do whatever he can to move this bill into law as soon as possible.

MK Tiviaev (Kadima) objected to the bill on the grounds that the treasury is not giving enough money to the orphans. Speaker Rivlin reminded Tiviaev that he must vote against the bill because he exercised his right to object to the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 45-1 and was sent to the Welfare Committee.

Amendment to the Presenting Party Reports Bill

MK Gafni (U.T.J.) explained the current law requires political parties to present an annual financial report to three different government authorities with different deadlines. He announced his amendment will create a single deadline for all three authorities and will require the reports to be identical. He noted the government does not have a position on the bill because it is an internal legislative branch matter.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 37-0 and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee should discuss the bill.

Amendment to the Consumer Protection Bill

MK Tirosh (Kadima) explained her amendment will require the labeling of alcoholic beverages to be identical to that of cigarettes. She slammed the government for not releasing the protocols of the ministerial committees. She struggled to understand why it is okay to write that cigarettes give you cancer but it isn’t okay to write that alcohol kills brain cells. She stated her bill is an educational bill that will explain to children why alcohol is bad for them.

Industry and Trade Minister Simhon (Independence) explained the government opposes the bill on the grounds that the matter will be resolved in MK Danon’s (Likud) bill, which has already passed its first reading. He said there is no reason to pass Tirosh’s bill since it will be irrelevant within a few weeks of Danon’s bill passing its third reading.

MK Tirosh said that the cynical suggestion that her bill is trying to steal MK Danon’s ideas is unacceptable and stressed that she never read Danon’s bill or knew of its existence. She asked that her bill be pulled so she can have time to read Danon’s bill. Minister Simhon refused and called on the Knesset to defeat the bill.

The bill was defeated 23-46 with one MK abstaining.

Amendment to the Income Support Bill

MK Solodkin (Kadima) explained her amendment will increase the amount a person can earn while remaining eligible for a government entitlement. She said the current situation encourages eligible citizens not to declare their income accurately and to cheat on their taxes. She slammed current government plans to raise the amount by a proposed 4% for only certain “important” entitlements. She also slammed the 35 shekel cost increase for senior citizen’s monthly bus passes in Gush Dan, part of the new public transportation reform.

Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon expressed government opposition to the bill citing the financial burden it would put on the budget. He reported that certain entitlement groups will receive raises in both their entitlements and their allotted salaries. He stressed the government has priorities and certain groups deserve entitlements more than others.

MK Solodkin blasted the government for being too capitalistic and suggested they pay more attention to the poor.

The bill was defeated 23-42.

Amendment to the Prohibiting Fraud in Kashrut Bill

MK Katzeleh (N.U.) explained this is his third time in two years bringing up this bill. He announced his amendment would give ultimate authority for determining the criteria for kosher certificates to the Central Rabbinate and would not allow the Supreme Court to intervene, as they have in a handful of cases. He informed the plenum that Israel’s Chief Rabbis Amar and Metzger both support the bill. He stressed that halacha (Jewish law) should be decided by rabbis and not Supreme Court justices. He asked how the country can be a Jewish and Democratic state if the country rejects its Jewish half.

Religious Affairs Minister Margi (Shas) agreed that it is unacceptable for the Supreme Court to force a city rabbi to grant a kosher certificate to a business when the rabbi feels the business is not kosher. He praised the bill, saying it is a great bill that is balanced and brings order to kosher certificates. He slammed the ministers who are forcing the government to oppose the bill on the grounds that it is a bill that bypasses the Supreme Court.

MK Katzeleh thanked Minister Margi for his support of the bill and asked the religious MKs in the room why they are voting against their rabbis. He particularly slammed Shas for voting against Rav Ovadia Yosef and Rav Amar.

Speaker Rivlin pulled back his support for a roll call vote on the bill on the grounds that most of the MKs who requested the roll call were not present. Kadima, Meretz and the Arab parties were not in the room for the vote in order to embarrass the religious MKs by forcing them to vote against a bill they believe in.

The bill was defeated 4-36 with MK Zeev (Shas) abstaining.

Amendment to the Social Security Bill

MK Gilon (Meretz) explained his amendment would grant an extension to the deadline for claiming benefits and extend that period until the money is paid in full to the citizen. He confessed that he is a big fan of taxes and his party wishes taxes were higher on the rich and middle class to help the poor. He said that many people realize they were entitled to money only years later and should be allowed to collect the money retroactively and his bill will enable this. He called on uniting all of the tax authorities under one roof.  After it was clear the government opposed the bill, Gilon decided to pull his bill and not vote on it to avoid defeat.

Amendment to the Protection of Privacy Bill

MK Khenin (Hadash) explained his bill would prohibit employers from monitoring their employees. He said when the Protection of Privacy Bill was passed in the 1980s no one knew of the dangers today’s technology would have on Israelis’ privacy. He slammed Orange for selling their customers’ information to various companies for a hefty pay check. He explained his bill would prohibit such things. He announced he would delay the vote on the bill in order to lobby for government support.

Amendment to the Consumer Protection Bill

MK Cabel (Labor) explained his amendment would require a citizen to pay his bills only according to necessity, meaning one would not have to pay two telephone bills if no longer living in one of the houses. He stated the idea of the bill is that the consumer will not be paying money for services he is not receiving. No minister was in the room, so the bill went to a quick vote.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 11-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Tuesday’s session lasted about three and a half hours. Three bills were discussed and advanced after passing their first readings. The three bills involve selling used cars, divorced parents’ rights and government campaigning. Education Minister Sa’ar answered many questions, changes were made to the MKs’ representation in the committees and a delegation of parliamentarians and members of Congress from Latin America was welcomed.

Non-Bills Summary

• 19 MKs participated in the One Minute Speech segment that opened the session.
• 10 MKs asked queries during a question hour with Education Minister Sa’ar (Likud).
• Speaker Rivlin gave a warm speech greeting the delegation of parliamentarians and members of Congress from Latin America.
• Two motions were discussed. One was not voted on and the other was sent for further discussion in the Education Committee by an 8-0 vote.
• House Committee Chairman Levin (Likud) announced that MK Tibi (R.T.) will replace MK Braverman (Labor) as a permanent substitute in the Finance Committee. He also announced which disputed bills will be discussed in which committees. Additionally he announced that MKs Cabel (Labor), Shai (Kadima) and Eichler (U.T.J.) will be designated party alternate substitutes that will be allowed to step in when needed in any committee for other MKs in their party and that Likud MKs Danon and Akunis may replace Shas MKs Azoulay and Vaknin. The measures were approved by a vote of 8-0.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

MK Ezra (Kadima) explained the amendment would force the transportation ministry to be a one stop shop and help people transfer vehicle licenses needed for selling and purchasing used cars. He said that currently a trip to the justice ministry is also required and this bill will eliminate that trip by transferring the authority to the transportation ministry.

MK Zeev (Shas) said the bill is very important and he supports it.

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) said that, as a co-sponsor, he will support the bill. He called for creating a national database on all cars so there is information on them when they are sold.

The bill passed its first reading 10-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Amendment to the Additional Mailing Address for Minors

MK Sheetrit said that divorce is spreading throughout Israeli society. He slammed courts’ decisions in custody battles to award the children to the mother automatically if they are less than six years old. He explained the amendment will provide the parent who doesn’t live with his children information on where they live and study. He noted that court orders can prohibit dangerous parents from receiving that information. He added that any letter that is sent to one parent about a child must be sent to the other parent as well.

MK Zeev praised and supported the bill.

MK Orlev (J.H.) praised and supported the bill.

The bill passed its first reading 6-0 and was sent to the Child Rights Committee.

Amendment to the Publication Restrictions Bill

MK Orlev (J.H.) explained the amendment would prohibit public bodies or personalities from purchasing advertisements supporting any public official. He said this restriction will prevent government workers from campaigning for certain individuals.

The bill passed its first reading 8-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Monday’s session lasted about six hours. Six bills were discussed. Five bills were advanced after passing their first readings, and one bill became law after passing its third reading. Netanyahu presented a bill for the first time since he was reelected Prime Minister in 2009. It was also the first time a Prime Minister had presented a bill since former Prime Minister Sharon presented the Disengagement Bill in 2005. The Procedures to Accelerate Planning and Construction of a Residential Building Bill was discussed by opposition and coalition members. Another highlight of the day was the transfer of certain Mossad responsibilities from Defense Minister Barak to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Non-Bills Summary

• Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The Netanyahu government negatively affects working women and intends to raise the retirement age for women to 67’ was defeated 37-56 with 27 MKs not attending.
• Labor’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The government’s economic failure is causing prices to rise in all sectors of the economy’ was defeated 36-58 with 26 MKs not attending.
• Meretz’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The inability of the government to act against the rebellion and growing threats to the rule of law’ was defeated 34-61 with 25 MKs not attending.
• Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘The food and public transportation prices and regressive taxes in Israel are the highest in the world’ was defeated 31-60 with 29 MKs not attending.
• Intelligence Minister Meridor announced the transfer of certain authorities and responsibilities from Defense Minister Barak to Prime Minister Netanyahu. MKs Ariel (N.U.), Khenin (Hadash) and Bielski (Kadima) gave speeches opposing the move on the grounds that Meridor refused to report which responsibilities are being transferred. Speaker Rivlin agreed to MK Ariel’s request to learn more on what he is voting on and brought up Meridor, who explained the issue is classified because it involves the Israeli Mossad. The measure was approved by a 24-4 vote.

Bills Summary

Temporary Provision to the Procedures to Accelerate Planning and Construction of a Residential Building Bill

Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that just about every MK has at some point complained to him about the housing crisis. He was heckled by the opposition on the grounds that the Prime Minister should not be presenting a bill to the Knesset. Speaker Rivlin reminded the MKs that former Prime Minister Shamir presented the original bill to the Knesset in 1990. Netanyahu explained the housing crisis is a result of the growing population. He reported that there is a gap every year of 10,000 building units that need to be built and are not, noting the government built 35,000 units this year compared to the 45,000 needed. He said the current shortage is between 60,000 and 100,000 building units. He reported the five measures his government has already implemented to tackle the problem, stating he has improved transportation from the Galil and the Negev to the center of the country by building new railroad lines and multi-lane freeways, granted young couples NIS 100,000 grants to build homes in 28 designated cities throughout Israel, moved multiple army bases to the Negev, overturned the prohibition on building new housing projects in the center of the country and reduced taxes for people selling apartments. MK Ben Ari (N.U.) was thrown out for heckling. Netanyahu defended his five actions and the money he spent on trying to solve the problem. He slammed the Israeli bureaucracy in general and the Israel Land Authority in particular as the main reasons Israel has a housing shortage. He praised the reform he started in the Israel Land Authority and said that many fundamental changes are coming, among them reducing the hostility between homeowners and the authority, productively marketing new homes, ensuring managerial flexibility and hiring dozens of experts to help expedite the marketing of homes. He said the two hurdles are ensuring a pension for the authority workers and shortening the marketing speed from 5-8 years per building unit to about a year. He explained his temporary provision will merge the authority committees into a one stop shop and enforce timetables and deadlines. He hoped these changes, along with what his government has already accomplished, will close the gap of the housing shortage and bring results quickly. He said the easiest way to lower demand for houses is to increase the supply. He said he hoped the opposition, who heckled his whole speech, will approve this important and much needed bill.

Opposition Leader Livni slammed Netanyahu for turning the speech into a press conference. She called Netanyahu a marketing expert and not a Prime Minister. She blasted the indirect taxes, shrinking middle class and cottage cheese prices. She accused Netanyahu of being all talk and no walk. She criticized Netanyahu and the ministers who left the room saying they are too afraid to hear another opinion. She said there are 160,000 empty apartments in the Galil and Negev, and Netanyahu’s solution is to build in the center of the country. She said that transportation reform for the Negev and Galil is a stop gap measure because the government should really create jobs in those areas. She noted there are 50,000 people on the list for public housing, and Netanyahu doesn’t even touch the issue with this bill. She said the real gap is between what Netanyahu says and what Netanyahu does.

MK Swaid (Hadash) slammed Netanyahu for explaining the problem and what the government has supposedly done to solve the problem instead of solving the problem. He warned lowering the price of apartments is dangerous because it will impact the taxes the government collects. He said an average family cannot afford an apartment unless they work for 15 years with no expenses. He stated that adding thousands of new apartments now will not solve the current situation but, rather, will help the future. He slammed the bill for discriminating against the Arab communities because it doesn’t call for legalizing the illegal homes in Arab villages.

MK Khenin (Hadash) slammed Netanyahu for presenting the bill and not staying to hear what the MKs have to say about it. He said the housing market is failing and a reform is needed but this bill falls short. He asked why the bill isn’t encouraging people to rent out their empty apartments. He slammed the government for not placing pressure on the builders who are not marketing 160,000 housing units that are sitting empty. He noted the bill covers houses, but not synagogues, schools, health clinics or bus stations, so the houses will not have services. He said the land authority is undermanned and that is why there are problems, claiming it has nothing to do with bureaucracy. He slammed the bill for not being environmentally friendly.

MK Regev (Likud) praised the bill and expressed her support. She encouraged supervision over the implementation of the NIS 100,000 grant. She slammed the selective housing prices of NIS 400,000 in Bet Shemesh compared to NIS 1.5 million for the same sized apartment in Rosh Ha’ayin. She called for a cap of NIS 600,000-700,000 for a first apartment.

MK Ariel (N.U.) called the bill vandalism. He slammed Netanyahu for freezing construction in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the Arab villages. He said 10,000 units are sitting ready for marketing and Netanyahu refuses to sign off on it. He noted that after six years two thirds of the disengagement refugees are still homeless. He stressed that releasing houses for marketing is the solution, not another bill.

MK Eichler (U.T.J.) recalled that when Israel was poor in the 1950s the government still found a house for every person. He slammed the government for not doing the same. He noted 8,000 apartments are being held up in Rosh Ha’ayin because of a fight over who will take care of the sewage. He said Bet Shemesh doesn’t receive government subsidies and it is just cheap because Haredim live there.

MK Plesner (Kadima) slammed the government for creating and not solving the housing crisis and said Netanyahu instead chose to keep the lies coming. He called on removing the marketing blocks on the 160,000 apartments ready for new families. He called the bill pointless since the solution is to release the apartments, which will flood the market with new apartments. He said creating another neighborhood like Hemed in Meveseret Tzion, which has only houses and no other services, is not a helpful solution.

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) said the bill is a bad plan and won’t be implemented since the Israel Land Authority chairman is against the reform and acts against the government. He warned this bill will help the country of Tel Aviv and hurt the rest of Israel. He called on giving incentives to the builders to sell apartments fast, restricting the purchase of more than one apartment per year and forcing people who bought land to build on it or forfeit the land back to the government or get taxed heavily.

MK Katzeleh (N.U.) said there are two big problems with the housing crisis. One is the national deficit, and the other is the country not agreeing to increase the debt to solve the problem. He recalled when he helped Sharon build 120,000 apartments in two years, from 1990 to 1992. His solution for lowering prices is allowing the public to buy land directly from the country without middlemen and removing the building restrictions in Jerusalem. He said his solution is the only solution and asked Deputy Speaker Akunis (Likud) to pass the message along to Netanyahu.

MK Horowitz (Meretz) said for the first time he has to agree with Katzeleh because he is 100% right. He said it is dangerous to bypass the planning committees because the result is failed neighborhoods. He called on giving the land authority more manpower and resources. He said this bill isn’t a supertanker but, rather, a superbluff.

MK Levi-Abekasis (Y.B.) supported and praised the bill. She said it is not a quick fix but, rather, a long-term partial solution. She said it would be unwise to oppose the bill because it doesn’t go far enough, stressing we should support even partial solutions. She criticized that social housing is not part of the bill.

MK Zuaretz (Kadima) said the solution is not legislation but marketing authorized housing projects. She asked how having more committees will reduce bureaucracy. She said this bill helps private interests dictate to mayors how their cities will be built up.

MK Molla (Kadima) accused Netanyahu of spinning every problem instead of solving them. He asked Netanyahu why, if the shortage is 100,000 and there are 160,000 in the reserves, the solution isn’t to release those reserves. He called on the government to purchase thousands of apartments and sell those apartments themselves.

MK Bibi (Kadima) agreed that bureaucracy is the problem but said more bureaucracy is not the solution. He said today politicians go to the press and say they are going to do something, and afterwards they decide if they are actually going to follow through. He warned that bypassing mayors when building up areas is dangerous.

MK Cabel (Labor) slammed Netanyahu for blaming the previous administration for the housing shortage after over two years in office. He reminded Netanyahu that Netanyahu assured the MKs that the previous reform in the land authority would result in more housing and said apparently Netanyahu was wrong about that and he is wrong about this too.

MK Hotovely (Likud) revealed that even as an MK she doesn’t have enough money to buy a house and wondered how the general public can afford to do so. She slammed the government for not doing enough to prevent the Arabs, Bedouins and Druze from land grabbing. She reported that Netanyahu will agree to build 5,000 new units in Jerusalem, but not more than that. She called on Netanyahu to raise that number and to increase the number of housing units in Judea and Samaria.

MK Zeev (Shas) called on the government to build up a Jewish Jerusalem and prevent the illegal building of Arabs in eastern Jerusalem. He slammed the illegal building of Arabs throughout the country and called on Israel to do something about it. He warned that the illegal construction is undermining plans for new roads and other infrastructure. He slammed the army for buying land from Bedouins and then letting them return to live on that land days later.

MK Amnon Cohen (Shas) thanked Netanyahu for the bill and expressed his support for it. He said he is looking forward to discussing it in the committee and hopes the bill will eventually lower the prices of apartments to NIS 600,000-700,000.

Finance Minister Steinitz (Likud) blasted the opposition for attacking the Prime Minister instead of letting him present the bill. He explained that in the years 2000 through 2009 the average annual construction of housing units was reduced gradually from 37,000 to 30,000 while the population grew, causing the current shortage of between 60,000-100,000 units. He also blamed the interest rates.  He said this year Israel is building 50,000 new units and, together with the reform of the land authority, this will cause housing prices to go down.

The bill passed its first reading 51-20 and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee will discuss the bill.

Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Bill

Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman Rotem (Y.B.) explained the amendment will expand the enforcement powers of the police, including body searches, identification of criminals and missing people, international police cooperation, the expansion of the criminal database to include more information and the creation of a new DNA database that will be used to identify dead bodies easily.

MK Gal-On (Meretz) explained the bill creates an issue between protecting the public and protecting criminals’ rights. She said she is pleased with the balance that was found in the committee and will support the bill. She said she is worried that the Israeli police will transfer information to the police of other countries who will use that information against Israelis.

MK Khenin slammed the bill for violating citizens’ basic rights by transferring information to foreign police. He said he will object to subsequent bills that have a Big Brother flavor. He said he will not vote on the bill at the request of Speaker Rivlin.

The bill passed its second reading 14-0.

The bill passed its third reading 14-0.

Temporary Provision to an amendment to the Defense Service Bill

Agriculture Minister Noked (Independence) explained the temporary provision will extend the amendment allowing army draftees to serve in the police service or border police instead of serving in the army for another three years until June 30, 2015.

MK Ariel (N.U.) slammed the government for asking our children to serve their mandatory service in the police or border police instead of the military. He blasted the government for forcing people to be policemen if they don’t wish to. He asked Noked to explain to him the logic behind the bill, but Noked refused.

The bill passed its first reading 11-1 and was sent to the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.

Temporary Provision to an amendment to the Electronic Surveillance to Criminals out on Bail and Criminals on Probation Bill

Minister Noked explained the temporary provision will extend the amendment that allows electronic surveillance of criminals out on bail or on probation for another year.

MK Ariel said this bill is as bad as the last bill but he won’t elaborate at the request of MK Miller (Y.B.)

The bill passed its first reading 10-1 and was sent to the Science and Technology Committee.

Amendment to the Patent Bill

Minister Noked explained the amendment would require the publication of patents within 18 months of the application being sent to the patent authority. She said this bill was requested by the United States government so that Israel would abide by current international patent guidelines.

The bill passed its first reading 9-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

MK Matalon (Y.B.) explained his amendment would toughen the punishment for abandonment during a traffic accident. He reported that many hit and run criminals receive cushy plea bargains and get out of jail after a few months and this bill will increase the punishment considerably. He hoped this bill will make a person think twice before abandoning a person on the road.

The bill passed its first reading 9-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Last Wednesday’s session lasted about seven and a half hours. Nine bills were discussed. Two bills were advanced after passing their preliminary readings, three were turned into motions to avoid defeat, one was pulled to avoid defeat and three were defeated. The bills advanced extend tax benefits for Sderot and Western Negev residents and businesses and allow local authorities to allocate money to a special fund for educational structures.

Non-Bills Summary

• Seven urgent queries were answered by Justice Minister Neeman, Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas), Home Front Defense Minister Vilnai (Independence), Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.), Transportation Minister Katz (Likud) and Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.).
• Speaker Rivlin greeted the conference attendees of Jewish parliamentarians from around the world with a warm speech.
• Eight motions were discussed on various topics and were sent for further discussion in committee by the votes 9-0, 6-0, 7-0, 9-0, 5-0, 4-2, 5-0 and 4-0.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Planning and Building Bill

MK Levin (Likud) explained his amendment would allocate a fund for planning and building education institutions in local authorities. He said this bill is the idea of the Mayor of Kiryat Uno. Speaker Rivlin was surprised that the finance ministry agreed to designate funds for a certain purpose. Levin thanked Rivlin and said he was sure it will be an uphill battle to pass the bill into law.

Interior Minister Yishai (Shas) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 21-0 and was sent to the Education Committee. Speaker Rivlin said the bill should have gone to the Interior Committee but said the MKs can choose which committee  they want even if it is against protocol.

Amendment to the Temporary Provisions on the Assistance to Sderot and Western Negev Bill

MK Hermesh (Kadima) explained his amendment would prevent the cancellation of tax benefits for people who live in Sderot and the Western Negev. The amendment would extend the benefits through 2011 but would leave to the Finance Minister the decision to extend the provision from 2012 and beyond. He reported that Sderot is blooming and has survived the rocket fire from Gaza. Hermesh told a joke about Moroccans who can’t pronounce Sderot correctly because they mix up the pronunciation of the letters shin and sin.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) called on Hermesh to wipe the joke off the official protocol, stressing that, as a Moroccan, he is deeply offended by the joke. Hermesh agreed. Afterwards Cohen expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 37-0 and was sent to the Funds Committee.

Armenian Genocide Day Bill/Motion

MK Eldad (N.U.) talked about how in his childhood he visited the Aaronson House, a symbol of the Jewish struggle against the British Mandate. He stated that there he learned about the Armenian genocide and subsequently read many books on the subject. He said that until now most of the world denies the fact that Armenians were massacred. He noted only 22 countries recognize Armenian Genocide Day and explained his bill would make Israel the 23^rd. He noted that Hitler carried out the holocaust because he knew the world would ignore the killing of the Jews as they did the killing of the Armenians. He noted Turkey at first confessed to killing 300,000 then, in 1919, 800,000, while Turkey’s ally Germany estimated the number at 1.5 million. He noted America, Canada and France are among the 22 countries that have recognized the genocide and called on Israel to join the leading democratic countries in doing so. He blasted Turkey for attacking Israel in every international arena and for sending the flotilla. He connected the Turkish government to the IHH, a terrorist organization which the Turkish government forbade from participating in the second flotilla. He said it is right and smart to recognize the genocide. He slammed the government and the leading opposition party, Kadima, for opposing his bill and denying the genocide.

Speaker Rivlin noted that he supported the Armenian delegation and the delegation of Jewish parliamentarians from various democracies sitting in the gallery. He openly supported and announced his solidarity with Eldad and his bill.

National Infrastructure Minister Landau (Y.B.) agreed there was genocide of the Armenian people in 1915-1916, which were the final years of the Ottoman Empire. He said Israel never denied the tragedy but has opposed the politicizing of it. He explained that Turkey and Armenia are in discussions on the issue and said Israel has no place there and should leave it an internal issue between those two parties. He suggested turning the bill into a motion. Eldad agreed after Rivlin suggested it would be a step in the right direction to at least discuss it in a committee.

The motion passed 25-1 and was sent to the Education Committee.

Motion/Amendment to the Tenant Protection Bill

MK Sarsur (R.T.) explained his amendment would prohibit the evacuation of a person from his house. He said that hundreds of families are thrown out of their homes every year either because the landlords are kicking them out on the street for failing to pay rent or because they don’t pay taxes. He stressed his bill would prevent this from happening. Speaker Rivlin said he was worried that this bill would cause landlords not to rent apartments to poor people.

Justice Minister Neeman opposed the bill on the grounds that people will stop paying rent and paying taxes if they are not worried about being evicted. He offered government support for a motion on the subject, and Sarsur agreed.

The motion passed 31-0 with one MK abstaining and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Motion/Amendment to the Collection of Taxes Bill

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained his amendment would prohibit the possessing of a debtor’s property or bank account because of parking debts in the first year after receiving a fine. He said the cities have turned parking fines into money makers and are trigger happy on freezing bank accounts and credit cards without warning the person first.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen said Sheetrit’s bill makes a lot of sense but the government opposes the bill because of pressure from the local authorities. He asked Sheetrit to turn the bill into a motion to keep the issue alive.

The motion passed 34-0 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Amendment to the Independence House Bill

MK Sheetrit explained his amendment would prevent the transfer of the Bible House in the Independence House from the State to the municipality of Tel Aviv. He noted the library has 800 Bibles from the last 400 years, written in 160 different languages. He said the room where the State was declared should remain the property of all Israelis and not be given to Tel Aviv. He slammed the NIS 1 million rent that was placed on the Bible House. He said the connection between the Bible and the founding of the State is undeniable and it is a scandal to think that the Bible House and the room where Israel was created should be given to Tel Aviv so they can evict them.

Culture and Sport Minister Livnat (Likud) expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that the current bill allows the Independence House to govern itself without the government interfering. She said the government is against private organizations receiving protection through the law and is against the government making decisions over the Independence House Council.

MK Sheetrit asked the government why they are clinging to legal technicalities instead of keeping the Bible inside the house where Israel was created. Prime Minister Netanyahu asked Sheetrit to delay the vote or turn the bill into a motion and assured him that he will personally take care of the situation. Sheetrit said there isn’t enough time to prevent it without passing the bill. Netanyahu agreed to help Sheetrit even though Sheetrit was forcing him to vote against the bill.

The bill was defeated 19-30.

Amendment to the Consumer Protection Bill

MK Tiviaev (Kadima) explained his amendment would prohibit the placement of advertisements on cars or vehicles. He stressed this bill is good for the environment because it will prevent littering and will prevent road accidents caused by having many advertisements on the ground. He slammed all the ministers for claiming they support the bill while the government is against it.

Industry and Trade Minister Simhon (Independence) allowed the Kadima MKs to heckle him for about ten minutes because the coalition didn’t have a majority in the plenum. He answered Tiviaev that the government is against the bill because it is not a matter of consumer protection and rather a matter of the environment. He said the government is against having amendments to laws in the wrong places.

MK Tiviaev said he doesn’t even know if the government would support the bill if he did change it. He slammed the government for playing games with him and not taking the opposition seriously. He asked the other MKs for advice on what he should do and ultimately decided to proceed with the vote.

The bill was defeated 16-29.

Amendment to the Evidence Ordinance Bill

MK Solodkin explained her amendment would prohibit a conviction based solely on the defendant’s confession in cases when there is no evidence to convict the defendant. She said many times detectives force confessions out of people and later the defendants are released when the police find the real criminal.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that sometimes confessions are enough to convict. He said that many criminals will walk if this bill is passed. He told Solodkin she was going too far with the bill.

MK Solodkin said she didn’t feel her bill went too far.

The bill was defeated 8-19.

Amendment to the Handicapped Parking Bill

MK Gilon (Meretz) explained his amendment would prohibit anyone who isn’t a police officer from giving penalty charge notices or tickets to licensed handicap vehicles parked in no parking zones. He said there isn’t enough handicap parking zones so handicapped people park in no parking zones and they shouldn’t be ticketed by trigger happy city officials.

Minister Eitan (Likud) warned that Gilon’s bill would hurt the handicapped instead of helping them. He suggested passing legislation that would increase the amount of handicap parking and give city inspectors sensitivity training for dealing with the handicapped. He agreed the city inspectors are trigger happy and suggested giving the job to someone else but not wasting police resources on parking violations. He suggested turning the bill into a motion so all sides- the government, the local authorities and the handicapped- could discuss the matter in committee.

MK Gilon read out the current law, which he claimed is not being followed, and said that is why his bill is necessary. He said he is willing to delay the vote for two weeks but refused to turn the bill into a motion.