Jeremy's Knesset Insider

Tuesday’s session was just under five hours, and not a single bill was discussed. So what were our 120 elected MKs doing? Well, most of them didn’t show up today at all. Just another Tuesday at the Knesset… So, what did we have today? International Combat Poverty Day, which produced a lot of speeches. All of the motions discussed were predictable topics taken from the headlines of Israel’s top newspapers. The only motion the government did not humor with a committee assignment was the one dealing with Ehud Barak’s current legal troubles.

Non-Bill Summary

• 22 MKs gave one-minute speeches, mostly on International Combat Poverty Day.

• Speaker Rivlin as well as Labor and Welfare Minister Hertzog (Labor) gave speeches marking International Combat Poverty Day.

• Ten motions based on the hot topics of the week were discussed at length by the Knesset, and seven of these motions were sent to their respective committees for further discussion. Each one of the passing votes were unanimous:  8-0, 12-0, 11-0, 10-0, 11-0, 5-0 and 5-0. Two motions were not brought up for any vote and were withdrawn after the government gave answers acceptable to those who submitted the motions. MK Eldad’s (N.U.) motion discussing ‘The Attorney General’s decision to close the case of the foreign worker who worked illegally in the defense minister’s home’ was the lone motion that was defeated by a 5-5 vote.

Monday’s session lasted over five hours, and the five bills that were discussed all passed. The day started with two no-confidence votes which were easily defeated, but the debate took over two hours. There were many non-legislative affairs today including the government transferring certain responsibilities from the tourism minister to the religious affairs minister. Of the five bills discussed, two were passed in their third reading, including another political appointment friendly bill and a bill that discards some current Israeli laws in order to comply with the International Legal Assistance Bill. The three bills that were passed in their first reading sparked Knesset controversy.  These bills included one that would require organizations to disclose which foreign governments are financing them, a bill that would allow the government to come after a citizen for not paying small fines, and a bill that would allow just about all small claims cases to be heard by a court registrar instead of a judge.

Non-Bills Summary:

• Minister Erdan (Likud) revealed that even though he makes a minister’s salary he rents the house he lives in. He questioned Kadima’s position that every family should own their own house. Kadima’s no-confidence motion, titled “Netanyahu government failure to meet the housing plight of Israeli citizens, especially of young couples,” was defeated 28-57 with 35 MKs not present. Ra’am-Ta’al, Chadash and Balad’s motion, titled “Netanyahu’s government – an obstacle to peace,” was defeated 21-61 with 38 MKs not present.
• MK Michaeli (Shas) explained that the Justice Committee found a freak mistake of one word that changed an amendment on the Courts Bill law by accident. The mistake was fixed with a 19-0 vote.
• Interior and Environment Chairman MK Azoulay (Shas) explained that dividing the Economic Efficiency Bill into separate legislative amendments was needed to implement the economic program passed for 2009 and 2010. The division of the bill was approved 14-0.
• Rivlin gave an address marking 66 years since the British government’s deportation of 450 Etzel and Lechi members to Kenya and Eritrea. Former Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir and other Israeli leaders were deported.
• Minister Eitan asked for a continuity clause on an amendment on the Producing and Marketing Bill. The vote will be held in two weeks.
• Interior and Environment Chairman MK Azoulay (Shas) asked for a continuity clause on an amendment that would grant mayors bodyguards. The vote will be held in two weeks.
• Two motions were discussed at the end of the day. A motion on international pensioner’s day was discussed at length but was not brought up to a vote. The other motion was a debate on the extent of rights given to holocaust survivors. The motion was sent to the Finance Committee for further discussion following a 5-0 vote.

Bill Summary:

Amendment on the State Service Bill

MK Michaeli (Shas) explained that the amendment would allow a minister in certain cases to appoint a temporary replacement for a three month time period. In other cases they would be allowed to appoint a temporary replacement for a six month period.

The bill passed its second reading 43-2.

The bill passed its third reading 51-2.

Amendment on the International Legal Assistance Bill

MK Michaeli (Shas) explained that the amendment would discard certain Israeli laws. This would help the Israeli law adapt and meet the standards of the International Legal Assistance Bill of other countries.

The bill passed its second reading 38-0.

The bill passed its third reading 37-0.

Government announcement on the transfer of powers from minister to minister

Religious Affairs Minister Margi (Shas) explained that the government was transferring the authority of religious landmarks and cemeteries from the Tourism Ministry to the Religious Affairs Ministry.

MK Zahalka (Balad) blasted the government’s decision, but did not give a reason why.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) took the opportunity to criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was in attendance. He said that Netanyahu will be giving away all of the religious landmarks in Judea and Samaria to the Palestinians, so there is no reason to vote on the issue. MK Ben Ari also slammed MK Eldad who last week called Jordan the Palestinian state. Ben Ari told Eldad that Jordan is just the name of a river and that the country is on the land of the biblical tribes of Reuven, Gad and Menashe. Ben Ari said that he would prefer Tzipi Livni as Prime Minister, because that would force the Likud to return to the right.

MK Zeev (Shas) called this decision a waste of time. Zeev asked that more responsibilities be transferred to the religious affairs ministry, especially from the justice ministry.

MK Eldad (N.U.) talked about the difficulties facing whoever takes responsibility for the Mount of Olives. He expressed hope that this transfer of authority will assist Minister Margi in making a real difference for the Mount of Olives.

The announcement was passed 34-10.

Note: Even though this wasn’t a piece of legislation I chose to cover this issue due to the high number of speakers.

Disclosure Requirements About Who Is Supported By A Foreign Entity Bill

MK Elkin (Likud) explained that his original bill would require companies and organizations to disclose all the support and money they receive from all foreign entities, not just foreign governments. Elkin named Bureaucracy Minister Eitan as the man behind the inception of the bill. Elkin added that the bill had been watered down in the committee following its preliminary reading and now had little opposition. He added that people who find transparency a threat are people who have something to hide. Elkin said he hoped to bring a stronger bill in the future that would include private foreign investors as well. He reminded Kadima that they voted for the bill in its preliminary reading.

MK Rotem (Y.B.) explained that this bill will not limit any fundraising or shut any mouths. It is a simple bill that requires transparency of countries that fund Israeli companies and organizations.

MK Levin (Likud) called the current version of the bill a moderate watered down bill. Levin stated that most countries do not allow other countries to fund anti-government institutions. He added that the current situation without this bill is that the public has no idea which countries are intervening in Israeli affairs.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) mentioned that these countries already own property in Israel and now they own companies too. He called on the Knesset to pass this law and expose which countries are responsible.

MK Zahalka (Balad) mocked MK Elkin and called him Mr. Transparency and rolled his eyes. He said that it is obvious that if this law is passed, many countries will back down and stop funding left-wing non-profit organizations.

MK Khenin (Chadash) said that transparency is important, but this bill will only expose transparency of left-wing organizations and will not expose any transparency of right-wing organizations. Therefore, Khenin informed the Knesset, he would oppose the law.

MK Oron (Meretz) objected to the idea that countries funding and influencing Israeli opinion was a bad thing. He called for transparency on which international Jews are buying Arab homes in eastern Jerusalem.

MK Gilon (Meretz) said this bill has nothing to do with transparency and everything to do with politics. Gilon said that the countries that contribute to left-wing organizations are known. He praised Holland and Belgium who are at the top of that list. He went on to name dozens of right-wing organizations and asked if they would also be investigated by the new fundraiser police.

MK Zeev (Shas) asked the last four speakers what they were afraid of. He declared foreign countries influencing Israeli opinion and Iran’s nuclear faculties equal threats. He called the New Israel Fund – the New Ishmael Fund.

MK Plesner (Kadima) said he supported transparency but this bill was discrimination. He called for investigating the evangelical Christians instead. He attacked Labor for supporting the bill and staying in the coalition.

MK Swaid (Hadash) called the bill anti-democratic and political masking itself as transparency. He equated this bill to an American Great Depression-era paranoia bill, seeking out the communists.

MK Zuaretz (Kadima) said that the selective transparency comes from an attitude of whoever is not with me – is against me. She said that Israel has few friends left and this bill will make it very hard for them to remain Israel’s friend. She said that the NIF helps Israel and that the Right should accept that. Pandemonium in the plenum broke out, and Deputy Speaker Miller (Y.B.) called Minister Eitan to order and regained order.

Labor and Welfare Minister Herzog (Labor) said that the first draft of the bill was a crazy anti-democratic bill that Kadima supported. He asked why Kadima is against the current moderate bill, which he watered down considerably. He called the objecting Kadima MKs crazy and told them to read the fine print of the bill before they oppose it.

The bill passed its first reading 23-12 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Amendment on the Execution Bill

Bureaucracy Minister Eitan (Likud) explained that the amendment would allow the government to execute criminal proceedings against people who owe less than 1,000 NIS to the government. It would also explain which government body will be responsible for this issue and how the manager of the department will be appointed.

MK Ben Ari criticized the police for attacking Jews living in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Shiloach when they were defending themselves against Arabs who were setting fire to their streets. He warned that if the police do not respond that the French Hill neighborhood will be next and after that it will be Romema.

MK Rotem said that there are many legal problems with this bill and that after many changes the bill would be acceptable.

MK Levin said that this bill will bring transparency to how government officials are appointed. He also dismissed the idea that we need to find jobs for retired judges by putting them at the head of various government departments.

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

Amendment on the Court Houses Bill

Minister Eitan explained the amendment would transfer the court’s powers to a registrar for most civil monetary cases that are less than 50,000 NIS. Last year there were 78,421 such cases. He explained that this bill would improve the efficiency of all parties involved and reduce the judges’ caseloads.

MK Rotem agreed that the courts are overworked and run down. He disagreed that taking cases away from judges was the correct solution. He asked how people who were not appointed judges could function as judges. Rotem asked if the next bill would allow people who did not pass the bar to practice law. Rotem demanded that the assistant of Justice Minister Neeman, who was in the room at the time, listen to this speech. He warned this bill would effectively kill small claims court.

MK Zeev said that the legal process is so long and involves so much paperwork that it doesn’t matter if there is a judge there anyway. He said that if a registrar is acting as a judge, we must then give him a registrar and pay him like a judge too. Zeev asked maybe we should just call registrars judges.

The bill passed its first reading 17-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Wednesday, the third day of the 2010 winter session and the 163^rd session of the 18^th Knesset overall, was less than seven hours. Eight bills were discussed, including a basic law. Two of the bills were defeated, two of them postponed and one was turned into a motion instead. Three bills did pass their preliminary readings. The bills that advanced will increase the sentence of students who attack teachers, force the government to take down cell phone antennae from hospitals and schools and, lastly, restrict government monopoly companies from creating new fees. Among the defeated bills were a bill that would limit top executives’ salaries and a bill that would grant students free national insurance.

Non-Bill Summary:

• Urgent queries were answered by Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas), Labor and Welfare Minister Herzog (Labor) and Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.).
• Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch answered nine other queries later in the session.
• Speaker Rivlin addressed the visiting President of Finland.
• Eight motions were discussed over the course of the day, but four didn’t come up for a vote. The few MKs who were around at the end of the afternoon passed the other four by the votes of 7-3, 14-0, 7-3 and 11-1 with one abstaining.
• House Chairman Levin (Likud) revealed the House Committee’s decisions on which committees will discuss the current preliminary bills in limbo.  Levin announced that MK Oron (Meretz) will replace MK Hermesh (Kadima) in the Finance Committee. Levin also announced that MK Pinyan (Likud) would replace MK Yacimovich (Labor) in a joint Finance-Justice Sub-Committee.

Today’s Bill Summary:

Amendment to the Knesset Bill

MK Levin (Likud) explained that his amendment would cancel the position of the Knesset Commissioner for future generations. MK Levin said he felt this appointed position hurt the Knesset immediately after elections and that the position has no purpose throughout the rest of the term.

MK Levin agreed to delay the vote on the bill for another week, in order to ensure government support.

Amendment to the Consumer Protection Bill

MK Shama (Likud) explained his amendment would prohibit government companies from collecting payments in addition to the rate prescribed by the laws of payment. MK Shama gave an example of government monopoly companies such as Bezeq charging a few extra shekels for customers that use the post office bank or don’t pay via the internet.

The government had no minister or deputy minister in the room to grant approval to the bill, but Speaker Rivlin chose to vote on the bill anyway. It is illegal for the government not to have a representative when the plenum is in session, and Rivlin chose to go ahead anyway. Perhaps the bill did not actually have government approval.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 33-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Amendment to the Penal Code Bill

MK Orlev (J.H.) explained that his amendment would sentence students who attack their teachers with between three to five years in prison. MK Orlev explained that a recent poll cited that 56% of the 120,000 Israeli teachers were attacked in the past school year. The Interior Ministry has only pursued 45 cases in the last year. MK Orlev asked that the Knesset send a message to the violent students and tell them that Israel stands behind her teachers.

Education Minister Sa’ar (Likud) expressed government support for the bill.

MK Zahalka (Balad) attacked Orlev and Sa’ar. Zahalka said that increasing punishments has never changed anything and that Sa’ar must work on changing his ministry’s policy. He also accused Orlev of trying to pull a populist quick-fix bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 61-1 and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee will prepare the bill for a first reading. Speaker Rivlin had wanted to send the bill to the Justice Committee, and Orlev preferred to send it to the Education Committee, of which he is the chairman.

Amendment to the Non-Ionizing Radiation Bill

MK Shamalov Berkovich (Kadima) explained that her amendment, which has many co-sponsors, would prohibit the placing of a transmission cellular communication system on top of any government educational or health facility. She stated that in today’s age the cell phone has become not only a telephone, but also an alarm clock, schedule book, GPS, address book, camera, email, music player, news ticker, traffic report and countless notes and lists. Therefore the cell phone companies need more antennae, and the government has decided to place them on hospitals and schools in order to receive money. The bill would demand that all of these antennae be removed immediately.

Public Relations and Diaspora Affairs Minister Edelstein (Likud) expressed government support for the bill.

MK Eldad (N.U.) objected to the law. He argued that there is no concrete evidence that links antennae to cancer. Eldad added that, as a doctor and during his time as the former health commander of the army, he never witnessed any cancer as a result of cell phone antennae. He also argued that the government would lose money and that people would lose reception in public places.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 53-1 and was sent to the Interior and Health Committee.

Motion/Amendment on the National Insurance Bill

MK Barakeh (Chadash) explained that his amendment would exempt all college students from paying national insurance contributions (Bituach Leumi). He added that this bill would help Israel move towards a socialist democracy that encourages higher education. He spent the rest of his allotted time talking about another one of his bills, one which would have the tax payers pick up the tab for school children who can’t go on class trips because their parents can’t afford it.

Labor and Welfare Minister Herzog (Labor) expressed government opposition to the bill. He pointed out that MK Barakeh’s bill would give students five free years of Bituach Leumi, regardless of how much money they earn during that time. The bill also excludes masters’ students, so it would discourage them from staying in school. The minister pointed out that Bituach Leumi is 18 NIS per month for the 50,000 first degree students, and there is no real reason to abolish it. The 10,000 Israeli foreign exchange students residing abroad pay 54 NIS per month for their Bituach Leumi. He added that this would give university students an unfair advantage over soldiers and yeshiva students who do not receive these benefits for free.

MK Barakeh agreed to turn the bill into a motion when he realized his bill wouldn’t pass.

The motion passed 58-1 and was sent to the Education Committee for further discussion.

Amendments to the Sick Pay Bill

MK Oron (Meretz) explained his two amendments would allow a person to take a day off from work in order to take a disabled person to their medical examination. He explained that the bill would help children be with their parents in the last months of terminal diseases.

Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Noked (Labor) expressed government opposition to the bill arguing that top industry leaders are afraid through this bill employees will use up all of their sick days.

The amendments were defeated by a single vote of 19-41

Amendment on Companies Bill

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained that his amendment would restrict the salaries of executives in government companies and public companies to 100 times the salary of the lowest paid worker. He attacked the fact that currently many of these executives make millions of shekels monthly. He estimated that his bill would put a cap of about 80,000 shekels per month for the top executives. MK Sheetrit attacked executives who are paying their employees 3,500 shekels per month and take home two million. He quoted a Harvard study that found that top executives in Israel are paid second highest in the world, next to the United States.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government opposition the bill. He attacked it for singling out government and public companies. Neeman also challenged the idea that if the executives made less money that they would distribute it to their employees. He blasted the idea that there is a single solution to closing the gaps within Israeli society and slammed the bill, which has not passed in any democratic country around the globe. He added there is a ministerial committee that is discussing how to close the gaps in the Israeli economy, and therefore this bill is irrelevant.

MK Sheetrit got back up to argue his point and got into a brief exchange with Prime Minister Netanyahu and a few other ministers who were present. He called for a roll-call voting.

The bill was defeated 26-45.

Basic Bill – Character of the State

MK Edery (Kadima) explained that his Basic Bill, that would be added to the Israeli constitution when created, would define the declaration of independence as the character and personality of the State of Israel.

MK Edery agreed to postpone voting on the bill in order to take the time to garner government support.