Jeremy's Knesset Insider

The Wednesday session lasted about eight hours. Thirteen bills were discussed. One bill was advanced after passing its preliminary reading, three were defeated, six were withdrawn and three were turned into motions in order to avoid defeat. The bill advanced will increase the financial compensation soldiers receive as part of their exit package. The three bills defeated would have given students under the poverty line free university, allowed business owners to go to university as a tax expense and raised the number of hours schools teach traffic safety.

 

Non-Bills Summary

* Education Minister Sa’ar (Likud), Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon (Likud) and Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.) answered urgent queries at the beginning of the session.

* There were eight motions discussed on a wide variety of topics. Seven motions were sent to committee for further discussion by the votes 17-0, 11-0, 8-0, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 and 6-0. One motion was not voted on.

 

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Civil Service Bill

MK Eichler (U.T.J.) slammed Israel for discriminating against people who don’t have a degree. He said that a degree is important for doctors and lawyers but has nothing to do with most occupations. He said that a person who has experience in a given field should not be overlooked for a person with no experience but has a degree in music. He charged that Israel discriminates against the ultra-orthodox. He explained his amendment would stop giving preference to government job applicants with a non-relevant academic degree and would put them at the same level as someone who doesn’t have a degree. He added that the amendment would also apply to political appointments. He slammed the government for not supporting his bill and said that his party will have to reconsider being a part of a government that discriminates against the ultra-orthodox. He agreed to turn the bill into a motion in order to avoid defeat.

The motion was passed 15-1.

Jerusalem Capital of Israel and the Jewish People Bills

MK Eldad (N.U.) said that Jerusalem has been the capital and heart of the Jewish people for thousands of years. He noted that no foreign conqueror ever declared Jerusalem as its capital. He noted that divided Jerusalem served as Israel’s capital from its establishment until it was reunited in 1967 and since then a united Jerusalem serves as Israel’s capital. He explained the point of this original bill is to tell the foreign countries to stop telling Israel they can’t build in their capital. He expressed hope that this bill will strengthen Jerusalem. He agreed to postpone the vote on the bill in order to give the government more time to come around and support it.

MK Orlev (J.H.) said this bill is important for the Jewish people in the Diaspora. He slammed the Labor party for doing a 180 and opposing the bill, something that hurt the advancement of the bill as a Basic Law. He said this isn’t a political bill but rather a Jewish bill. He agreed to postpone the vote on the bill in order to give the government more time to come around and support it.

Reward for Regular Soldiers and Civilian Volunteers to Ensure their Higher Education Bill

MK Braverman (Labor) explained his original bill would create a fund of a soldier’s yearly wages that will be put towards that soldier’s college tuition. He explained that the year of wages will reflect minimum wage. He compared his bill to former U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt’s G.I. Bill. He suggested this bill will motivate young people to join the army and will even entice the ultra-orthodox to join the army and the Arabs to join the national service. He agreed that the bill’s price tag of two billion shekels is heavy and that is why his bill calls for a gradual process. He warned that prolonging the passing of this bill will lead to youth violence. He said that it is the responsibility of the rich to bail out the poor and they should pay more taxes to fund this bill. He agreed to postpone the vote on the bill in order to give the government more time to come around and support it.

Restricting Unauthorized Religious Activities in the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Police Bill

MK Horowitz (Meretz) said his original bill will prohibit handing out material, prayer services, seminars and all other religious activities by someone who is outside of the army rabbinate in all army bases. He said that the army is not a place to promote religion or secular persecution. He went on to slam the separation of women from men in religious units and the women who are discriminated against and humiliated because they are female. He said that not allowing women to sing in front of men has no place in a democratic state.

Homefront Security Minister Vilnai (Independence) said that unauthorized religious activities by anyone outside the army rabbinate are already illegal and therefore there is no reason for this bill. He said that the army is going to great lengths to increase the number of religious soldiers and told Horowitz not to ruin it. He offered turning the bill into a motion and Horowitz agreed.

The motion passed 12-0.

Amendment to the Students’ Rights Bill

MK Zoabi (Balad) explained her amendment would give every citizen the right to take the matriculation exams free of charge. She stressed that students must be allowed to take their tests and graduate high school free of charge and her bill will accomplish that. She cited court rulings that deemed charging for the tests illegal and said that although the practice was stopped in 2005, this bill will prevent the education ministry from changing their minds in the future.  She agreed to postpone the vote on the bill in order to give the government more time to come around and support it.

Amendment to the Student Health Education Bill

MK Agbaria (Hadash) explained his amendment would force the schools to teach a class on health in middle and high school once a month in order to promote a healthy lifestyle. He agreed to postpone the vote on the bill in order to give the government more time to come around and support it.

Amendment to the Absorption of Discharged Soldiers Bill

MK Matalon (Y.B.) explained his amendment would increase the grant soldiers receive when they are released. He said this bill is a social justice bill and should be supported. He called on the Arabs and ultra-orthodox to at least do national service and complete some sort of duty to their country.

Homefront Security Minister Vilnai expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 28-0 and was sent to the Welfare Committee.

Regulating State Preschool Activity Hours Bill

MK Tiviaev (Kadima) explained his original bill would force all state preschools to be open from 7 AM until 4 PM. He said his bill would go into effect gradually in order to meet its budget requirements. He said the current situation where the preschools get out between 1 PM and 2 PM keeps women out of the workforce or forces them to work part time. He said this bill would help single mothers and allow them to work instead of collect welfare checks. He said in his hometown of Ofakim the unemployment is 12%, well above the 5.3% average. He said that including those on welfare the unemployment rate is 20-25%. He called on the government to get with the socialist program and take the riches of Tel Aviv and bring them to Ofakim.

Education Minister Sa’ar (Likud) opposed the bill but suggested turning the bill into a motion. He said that the government plans on implementing this bill in the near future and therefore there is no reason to pass this bill.

MK Tiviaev agreed to turn the bill into a motion and said that if the government is going to go through with this bill anyways, the government should be supporting the bill.

The motion was passed 25-1. MK Sheetrit announced he voted from the wrong seat by mistake.

Amendment to the State Education Bill

MK Bielski (Kadima) said that 31,263 Israelis have died in traffic accidents, which is more than in all of Israel’s wars. He revealed that Israel has the highest child death rate in traffic accidents among the democratic nations. He noted that 70% of children ages 0-4 died because they weren’t wearing a seat belt. He explained his amendment would force the schools to set educational goals on teaching about road safety. He slammed the decision to lower the driving age to 16 years and 9 months and said that having more young drivers is not the answer. He said Israeli road rage makes the State look like a third world country.

Education Minister Sa’ar praised the idea in principle but opposed the bill on the grounds that there are already many hours dedicated to road safety in Israeli schools. He revealed that the number of hours Israelis learn about road safety in schools is among the highest around the globe. He asked if he should take away hours of Math and English for more road safety. He answered that it probably wouldn’t help.

MK Bielski said that the hours are not enough if Israel’s children die on a percentage basis more than any other democratic nation and the hours must be increased.

The bill was defeated 23-44.

Amendment to the Council for Higher Education Bill

MK Molla (Kadima) explained that his amendment would exempt students whose families live below the poverty line from university tuition. He said that if the government opposes this bill they are throwing away socialism for piggish capitalism.

Education Minister Sa’ar opposed the bill on the grounds that there is a fund of NIS 102 million for select students who live below the poverty line to go to college. He said that there is no reason to support this bill because for the most part what the bill is trying to create already exists.

MK Molla blasted Sa’ar and called him a liar and said that even if some students are helped, the fund must be expanded to include everyone.

The bill was defeated 23-40.

Amendment to the Income Tax Ordinance Bill

MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) charged that the Trachtenberg committee is a farce and claimed that it was a fixed game that Netanyahu puppeteered. Hasson heckled Netanyahu and told him to listen up. Netanyahu responded that Hasson should learn some manners. Netanyahu told him that when he was a young MK he spoke with respect to the Prime Ministers and never attacked them. Netanyahu suggested that Hasson learn from his experience. Hasson responded that Netanyahu is wrong and that he is allowed to criticize him on such matters. He went on to speak about his bill. He explained his amendment would recognize the individual learning costs of business owners as a tax expense credit. He stated the bill will assist small business owners and help them learn more about their profession. He noted that this tax credit can only be used every five years.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) opposed the bill because there are certain circumstances where the bill already exists in law.

The bill was defeated 13-32.

Amendment to the Penal Code Bill

MK Adatto (Kadima) explained her amendment would increase the penalty for assaulting a social worker to five years. She said that social workers are on the front lines and should receive more protection than regular people. She agreed to postpone the vote for a week to give the government more time to come around.

The Tuesday session lasted about four hours. No bills were discussed. Three motions were discussed representing three special days- National Commitment to Road Safety Day, International Diabetes Awareness Day and International Children’s Rights Day- and one of those motions was sent to committee. The government decided to oppose all of the bills that were to be brought up for the special days, and as a result few MKs bothered to show up.

Non-Bill Summary

* 17 MKs participated in the one minute speech segment that opened the day. Most of the speeches were from MKs who wanted to talk about the three special days but chose to leave early and not stay for the motions.

* A motion on National Commitment to Road Safety Day was discussed by Speaker Rivlin, eight MKs and Transportation Minister Katz (Likud).

* A motion on International Diabetes Awareness Day was discussed by seven MKs and Agriculture Minister Noked (Independence).

* A motion on International Children’s Rights Day was discussed by eight MKs and Minister Begin (Likud). The bill was sent to committee by a 9-0 vote.

The Monday session lasted about six hours, and eleven bills were discussed. Six bills were advanced after passing their first readings, and five bills became law after passing their third readings. The highlight bill of the day was the new animal rights law that will send to prison for an entire year anyone who declaws a cat. Other new laws exempt most 18-21 year olds from paying social security, extend the local cable news broadcasts for another year, expand the information you can receive about a used car and allow the President to provide awards to whistleblowers.

Non-Bills Summary

* Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘the failure of the Netanyahu government in the political, economic and social sectors’ was defeated 41-55 with 24 MKs not present.

* Labor and Meretz’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘the government’s inability and lack of preparation for a slowdown in the world markets and that layoffs are expected in the Israeli economy’ was defeated 39-57 with 24 MKs not present.

* Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘the issue of planning and building in the Arab sector’ was defeated 34-58 with 28 MKs not present.

* House Committee Chairman Levin (Likud) reported which disputed bills will be discussed in which committees.

* Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.) answered seven queries at the end of the session.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Social Security Bill

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman Katz (Likud) explained that the amendment exempts soldiers, national service participants and pre-military schooled citizens from paying social security between the ages of 18-21.

The bill passed its second reading 44-0.

The bill passed its third reading 40-0.

MK Orlev (J.H.) thanked the MKs who supported his bill.

Amendment to the Encourage Public Service Integrity Bill

State Comptroller Committee Chairman Bar-On (Kadima) explained that the amendment would encourage corruption whistleblowers in the private sector by having the president present annual awards for whistle blowing.

The bill passed its second reading 31-0.

The bill passed its third reading 28-0.

MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) thanked the MKs for supporting his bill and his successor in committee Bar-On for fast tracking the bill.

Amendment to the Illegal Residence Bill

Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.) explained the amendment turns into law a group of temporary provisions from 1996 that have been extended time and time again effective March 31, 2012. He said the bill prohibits Israelis from assisting illegals from Judea, Samaria and Gaza in three areas: housing, employment and transportation. He said these temporary measures have been an effective measure in the war on terror and should be protected within permanent Israeli law.

MK Barakeh (Hadash) blasted the bill and said that Israel is occupying Judea, Samaria and Gaza therefore they should allow those residents to work in Israel freely without requiring them to ask for permission. He charged that the bill has nothing to do with security and everything to do with putting down the Arabs. He suggested that turning the temporary order into a permanent law means that Israel is changing the status of the area and doesn’t really recognize a Palestinian state.

MK Swaid (Hadash) criticized the bill and said it turns citizens into police detectives who need to check a person’s identification card before giving him a ride or sitting down with him for a cup of coffee. He said this bill is inhumane, undemocratic and enhances the occupation.

MK Khenin (Hadash) slammed the checkpoints for Arabs and cited Machsom Watch reports. He said that Israel repeatedly starts with temporary amendments, extends them time and time again and finally turns them into law when the time is right. He called on Israel to leave the occupied territories.

MK Agbaria (Hadash) claimed this would prevent ambulances from taking illegals to a hospital out of fear of committing a crime. He called the bill racist.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) revealed that he was coming from the Salem Court that just sentenced the Fogel family murderer and said how much it bothered him the fine treatment the murderer received. He recalled sitting with Tel Aviv University students and having them realize that they are on conquered private land from 1947 and how they felt that it was different from him living on open land where no one lived before but is over the 1967 borders. He stated there is no difference and stressed that many Arab cities are split down the 1967 line and that proves that the line means nothing. He called on expanding the law so it includes all illegals, including the Sudanese.

MK Zeev (Shas) stated that most of the Arabs in Judea and Samaria work in the settlement industrial areas and not within the pre-1967 borders. He said that the number of workers that will be affected by this law is small and stressed it is an effective tool in fighting terror.

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) praised the bill. He recalled when 250,000 Arabs from Judea, Samaria and Gaza worked over the green line until the second intifada, which led to that number dropping significantly. He called on Arabs to reject terrorism and embrace economic partnerships.

MK Yoel Hasson praised the bill. He slammed the four Hadash MKs who oppose the bill. He asked why they want Arabs to cross the green line if they want a state on the other side of the green line. He called on a true physical separation between Palestinians and Israelis.

MK Zahalka (Balad) said that Israel is treating the Arabs like outsiders when in fact it is the Jews who are the outsiders. He lectured the Jewish MKs and told them that they can’t place a blockade on the air space and coastlines and build fences and checkpoints and then prevent the Arabs from crossing the green line. He demanded the Israeli government choose between taking responsibility for the Arabs and giving up their claim on the land. He said that it is the right of all Palestinian refugees to return to their homes across the green line and walk around Israel as they please. He said it is their nation, not the Jews’ nation. He said that even with the two state solution the borders must be open and free so Arabs can live wherever they want.

MK Shai (Kadima) praised the bill. He said that every country must protect its borders and in the name of liberalism his center-left party supports this bill wholeheartedly. He said the bill is super-democratic.

MK El-Sana (R.T.) said this bill doesn’t protect Israel from terrorists; rather, it protects the occupation. He said Israel has no right to tell Arabs they cannot work, live or travel wherever they want. He called on Israel to end the occupation and called it terrorism.

MK Tibi (R.T.) slammed the Israeli liberal left who are supporting a bill against Palestinian workers. He said the bill is aimed at suffocating the Arab economy on both sides of the green line.

MK Ezra (Kadima) spoke of three terrorists who killed many Israelis and who would have been stopped if this bill had been in place before 1996.

The bill passed its first reading 37-6 and was sent to the Interior Committee. MK Tibi (R.T.) said that he voted for the bill by mistake and stressed that he meant to vote against.

Amendment to the Municipal Elections Bill

Interior Minister Yishai (Shas) explained his amendment would direct all appeals of municipal election petitions or charges to the administrative affairs court.

MK Sheetrit praised the bill. He recalled when he was Interior Minister that every little thing was sent straight to the Supreme Court because there was no clear court to hear the case. He added the clause that forces the court to decide within seven days will make the process even more effective.

The bill passed its first reading 20-0 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Amendment to the Jail Ordinance Bill

Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch explained that the amendment would disqualify certain prisoners from administrative release in cases of overcrowding. He stated the prisoners that would be disqualified are those who are restricted from early release during sentencing.

MK Khenin suggested expanding administrative releases instead of restricting them. He went on to lobby the government for one of his bills coming up next week.

MK Ben Ari charged that the motive behind the bill is budget related. The minister and a few MKs pointed out that the opposite is true and he should really read the bill.

MK Zeev revealed there are over 23,000 prisoners in Israel and about 2,500 prisoners are illegal immigrants who don’t have many rights under Israeli law. He supported the bill, but asked that early release be available for Israelis citizens.

MK Sheetrit supported the bill but complained that 1,000 prisoners under house arrest are not eligible for early release.

MK Eldad (N.U.) said he was convinced by the minister’s speech that it is a good bill but asked how it is that he supported 450 murderers being released early for Gilad Shalit.

MK Azoulay (Shas) said he is worried that this bill will slowly put an end to early release after serving two thirds of a sentence. He asked why, if we are above the allotted number of prisoners of 17,700, there haven’t been more administrative releases over the last four months.

MK Ezra called on expanding the early release program and noted when he was the minister during the previous term there were more early releases.

The bill passed its first reading 22-0 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Amendment to the Privacy Bill

Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch explained the amendment would include the internet and other technologies under the original bill. He added that it will expand the enforcement of the bill by allowing certain powers the authority to supervise and inspect cases where a government worker might be leaking someone’s private information.

MK Sheetrit supported the bill but reserved his opposition for a clause in the bill that would place a NIS 100,000 fine on someone who leaks the private information. He said the fine was excessive.

The bill passed its first reading 19-0 and was sent to the House Committee to determine which committee will discuss the bill.

Amendment to the Payment of Pensions to Reserve Soldiers’ Families Bill

Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch explained the amendment would provide widows of fallen soldiers from before 1999 a one-time grant of NIS 100,000. He noted the bill will cost NIS 250 million.

MK Danon (Likud) revealed that his bill called for NIS 300,000 and it was hard for him to swallow the reduction to NIS 100,000. He called on the government not to lower it more in committee.

MK Wilf (Independence) told the widows that they were wronged by the government and that thanks to the MKs and faction managers the pressure on the government was so fierce they brought their own version of the bill. She agreed that it was watered down but stressed that the MKs and faction managers will fight so that the bill is fast tracked in committee and approved as soon as possible.

MK Sheetrit praised and supported the bill. He equated the importance of passing this bill with the biblical story of the sacrifice of Isaac.

MK Ariel (N.U.) revealed that he has been fighting for this bill for ten years. He wondered why the government was against this bill when he brought it up last week but is for it this week. He slammed the government for reducing the grant from NIS 300,000 to NIS 100,000 and especially for deciding that the money will be distributed in payments over the course of two years.

MK Yoel Hasson called this bill a life changer. He said it will end the discrimination against widows from before 1999 compared to the widows after 1999, who receive a monthly pension.

MK Eldad said it is hard for him to swallow but he must praise the government for presenting this bill.

The bill passed its first reading 24-0 and was sent to the Welfare Committee.

Temporary Provision Amendment to the Telecommunications Bill

Finance Committee Chairman Shama (Likud) explained he is extending the temporary order that funds local news broadcasts on cable TV for another year and that the extension will apply until the end of 2012.

The bill passed its second reading 14-0.

The bill passed its third reading 13-0.

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

Finance Committee Chairman Shama explained the amendment will force the car registry to reveal more information about used cars before a new buyer purchases the vehicle and transfers it to his name.

The bill passed its second reading 11-0.

The bill passed its third reading 12-0.

Amendment to the Animal Protection Bill

MK Orlev explained the amendment prohibits declawing cats and only allows declawing in cases where the cat’s health demands it. He noted that criminals will receive a one year prison sentence for the crime.

The bill passed its second reading 9-0 with one MK abstaining.

The bill passed its third reading 10-0 with one MK abstaining.

MK Cabel (Labor) thanked the MKs for supporting the bill and said it is an important day for animal rights.

Disclosure of Information of Electronic Communication Network Subscribers Bill

MK Orlev explained that his original bill would put an end to a technical loophole where if somebody commits a crime online he is found innocent in the courts because in many cases it cannot be proven that the crime was committed from his computer. He stressed this bill doesn’t create any new laws, it simply enforces the current laws in cyberspace.

MK Yachimovich (Labor) opposed the bill on the grounds that it hurts freedom of the press. She stated that bloggers should be allowed to slander political figures and not be charged and convicted for it. She said that the bloggers are free from the pressures of the mainstream media and it allows them to say things that need to be said. She said that no one should go to jail because they wrote something in a talkback or Facebook, no matter how bad that talkback or status was.

MK Ben Ari said instead of stopping talkbackers or Facebookers we should be giving longer sentences to animals like the murderer of the Fogel family.

MK Orlev rejected Yachimovich’s claims that the bill hurts freedom of the press or expression. He said that the bill doesn’t create new laws; instead it enforces the existing ones in cyberspace. He slammed Yachimovich for suggesting that the Internet should be a safe haven for criminals to say whatever they want about anybody without any proof.

The bill passed its first reading 9-1 and was sent to the Science and Technology Committee.