Jeremy's Knesset Insider

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.

The Wednesday session lasted about eight hours. Twelve bills were discussed. One bill was advanced after passing its preliminary reading, one was turned into a motion, seven were withdrawn to avoid defeat and three were defeated. Four motions were discussed, two of which were sent to committee, and Prime Minister Netanyahu endured his monthly 40 MK signature discussion. The bill advanced would regulate the recognized national service institution functions. The bills defeated would have reduced the VAT on basic food items and reduced the real estate tax for purchasing a home.

 

Non-Bills Summary

* Industry and Trade Minister Simhon (Independence), Justice Minister Neeman, Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.) and National Infrastructure Minister Landau (Y.B.) answered urgent queries at the beginning of the session.

* Speaker Rivlin greeted the former Speaker of Tonga with a warm speech.

* A 40 MK signature forced session on the topic of ‘the Netanyahu government’s failure in the political, economic and social sectors’ was discussed by 16 MKs, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Livni. Netanyahu’s speech was accepted by a 38-29 vote.

* A motion on the 2010 Poverty and Social Gaps Report was discussed by 9 MKs and Culture and Sport Minister Livnat (Likud). It was sent to committee by a 9-0 vote.

* A motion on the shortage of foreign workers in construction was discussed by two MKs and Minister Livnat. It was sent to committee by a 4-0 vote.

* A motion on the closure of radio station “Voice of Peace” was discussed by 2 MKs and Minister Livnat. The motion was defeated 3-4.

* A motion on the state of education in Israel was discussed by MK Wilf (Independence) and Deputy Education Minister Moses without a vote.

* Deputy Education Minister Moses (U.T.J.) answered two queries toward the end of the session.

 

Bills Summary

Veterans’ Widows Pension Bill

MK Ariel (N.U.) explained that his original bill would provide the widow of a solider a small pension. He accused the government of trying to prolong the passing of this bill in order to save money because as time goes on more widows die. He slammed the government for trying to buy time but agreed to postpone the vote on his bill for one week to give the government more time to come around.

Motion/Amendment to the Schools Inspection Bill

MK Gafni (U.T.J.) expressed support for MK Ariel’s bill and slammed the government for not supporting it today. He went on to talk about his bill and blasted the government for not treating public schools the same way they treat private religious schools in regards to school inspections. He revealed that there are many safety features that are requirements for religious schools but not for state schools and gave a few examples. He slammed the government for opposing his bill that would bring equality on the grounds that it cost NIS ten million.

Education Minister Sa’ar (Likud) explained that the safety problems of public schools are the problems of the local municipalities, as opposed to private schools that are the responsibility of the government. He agreed that this situation leads to problems in certain public schools and suggested turning the bill into a motion. Gafni agreed.

The motion passed 21-1 and was sent to the Education Committee.

Amendment to the Dead Sea Tender Bill

MK Matalon (Y.B.) explained his amendment would create a fund for the reconstruction and development of the Dead Sea region. He explained the money would come from the taxes collected from Dead Sea businesses. He agreed to postpone the vote on the bill for two to three weeks until the government agrees to support it.

Amendment to the Economic Arrangements Bill to Achieve Budget Goals and Economic Policy for Fiscal Year 2002

MK Matalon explained his amendment would create a fund for the protection of the Dead Sea coast and overall environment. He explained that this bill goes hand and hand with the previous bill. He said that the Dead Sea does not belong to the finance or tourism ministries; rather, it belongs to the Israeli citizens. He warned that letting the Dead Sea die would be suicide for the Israeli economy and something must be done soon. He agreed to postpone the vote on the bill for two to three weeks until the government agrees to support it.

Amendment to the National Service bill

MK Elkin (Likud) explained his amendment would regulate the functions of recognized national service institutions.

Bureaucracy Minister Eitan (Likud) shouted at Elkin, who was ignoring him, and demanded that he listen to his response. He expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 33-30 with one MK abstaining and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee will discuss the bill further.

Amendment to the Municipal Taxes and Government Fees Ordinance Bill

MK Swaid (Hadash) explained his amendment would create a fund for dividing the money and assets a municipality receives from government agencies. He said the bill will also evenly distribute the pool of municipal taxes across all municipalities, despite the fact that the some cities might have put more money into the pool. He said that the tent protesters are calling for this type of communism, which will put an end to the rich cities. He slammed the rich municipalities that are sitting on a combined NIS 1.5 billion surplus and called on them to give that money to the bankrupt Arab villages.

Public Bodies’ Property Tax Money Distribution into Fund Bill

MK Zahalka (Balad) explained his bill is very similar to Swaid’s and called on the government to support both. He noted that his bill is a copy of the governments bill that was never brought up to a vote.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) said it is a good bill with bad timing. He expressed government opposition to the bills and asked Swaid and Zahalka to postpone the vote on the bills to a later date. They both agreed.

Two Amendments to the Real Estate Property Tax Bill

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained his amendment would eliminate the purchase tax for buying a first apartment. He stressed the bill would be helpful for new couples.

MK Barakeh (Hadash) explained his similar amendment would reduce the purchase tax, as opposed to eliminating it. He slammed the government for eliminating the selling tax on real estate for a first apartment while keeping the purchase tax in tact. He said that the government is acting like they prefer a sellers’ market as opposed to a buyers’ market.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen explained that any apartment under NIS 1,139,320 is tax free and for first time home buyers apartments under NIS 1.35 million are tax free until the end of 2012. He called on the Knesset to oppose the two bills since the MKs proposed bills that are already law.

MK Sheetrit explained his bill would not be a temporary order and would not end after 2012 and therefore the Knesset should support the bill.

The first bill was defeated 34-46.

The second bill was defeated 34-46.

Amendment to the Securities Bill

MK Sheetrit said that tycoons who borrow government money and don’t pay it back shouldn’t be allowed to pocket any profits until they pay off their debt to the tax payers. He read off a list of current tycoons who each make millions of shekels a year yet claim their companies don’t have the money to pay back their debt to the government. Prime Minister Netanyahu asked Sheetrit to postpone the vote to let him study the bill personally. Sheetrit agreed.

Amendment to the Value Added Tax Bill

MK Sheetrit explained his amendment would reduce the tax rate on basic food products from 16% to 8%. He said this bill will help the poor afford to feed their children.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen said that lowering the VAT will help the rich and the poor and therefore it defeats Sheetrit’s purpose. He said there are other methods to assist the poor without giving a tax break to the rich and suggested Sheetrit try
something else.

MK Sheetrit said the benefit of lowering the VAT on a few basic foods will benefit the poor and that outweighs the loss from rich tax payers on this issue.

The bill was defeated 40-48 with two MKs present and not voting (Deputy Speaker Levi-Abekasis (Y.B.) and MK Schneller (Kadima).

Amendment to the ID Card Maintenance and Presenting Bill

MK Bielski (Kadima) explained his amendment would allow a drivers license to be a substitute for the national identification card in all cases. He said that in America people use driver licenses for identification purposes and there is no reason Israel shouldn’t do the same. He agreed to postpone the bill for a week in order to gather more government support.

The Tuesday session lasted about three and a half hours. Four bills were discussed and advanced after passing their first readings. A bill that would provide airline passengers financial compensation for flight cancellations and delays was advanced. Bills that provide entitlements to abused women in shelters, extend the period of time women can press charges for sexual harassment and unite the political parties’ financial reports into one document were advanced as well. The two motions of the day were not voted on.

Non-Bills Summary

* 23 MKs spoke during the one minute speech segment that opened the day. The main topic of discussion was the advancement of two contested bills the night before.

* A motion on the contribution of evangelical Christian organizations to refugees and survivors of the Holocaust was discussed by Speaker Rivlin, 4 MKs and Deputy Minister Nass (Likud).

* A motion on the international Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was discussed by Culture and Sport Minister Livnat (Likud), Deputy Speaker Molla (Kadima) and 8 MKs.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Sexual Harassment Prevention Bill

MK Hotovely (Likud) stated that since the original bill was passed in 1998 women have been given protection from sexual harassment. She slammed those who wish to pardon former President Katsav, who was convicted of rape. She explained the amendment would extend the statute of limitations for a woman to file a complaint of sexual harassment from three years to four years.

Culture and Sport Minster Livnat (Likud) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its first reading 9-0 and was sent to the Women’s Rights Committee.

Amendment to the Income Support Bill

MK Khenin (Hadash) thanked MK Gal-On for co-sponsoring the bill with him. He revealed that 17 Israeli women have been killed by their husbands over the past year. He added that so far in 2011 12,260 case files have been opened in Israel on domestic abuse. He stated that 200,000 women are beaten by their husbands in Israel. He explained his amendment would provide an entitlement benefit for women during their stay in a battered women’s shelter. He said this bill is a socialist bill that takes care of Israel’s neglected beaten women.

MK Gal-On (Meretz) thanked Khenin for presenting the bill and WIZO for writing the bill for them. She said that this entitlement of NIS 1,632 is just the first step and with more pressure on the government she hopes to increase that amount. She expressed hope that this bill will give women the courage to leave their husbands. She slammed the finance ministry for claiming the bill will cost NIS 3.5 million annually and said that is why women must stay in the shelter for a whole month in order to be eligible for the entitlement.

MK Tibi (R.T.) praised the bill and suggested prohibiting guns in Israel in order to prevent husbands from killing their wives.

Culture and Sport Minster Livnat expressed government support for the bill. She revealed that Netanyahu supports this bill and he will take care of the finance ministry’s opposition to it.

MK Whbee (Kadima) recalled his visits to the shelters and the conversations he has had with the women there. He called for funding more shelters in order to avoid overcrowding. He noted that the city councils are funding the shelters and the government is only supplementing them.

MK Bielski (Kadima) revealed that between 700 and 800 women a year and about 1,000 children leave their homes for 14-15 shelters spread out across Israel. He said the men should be in the shelters locked up and the women should be at home with the kids.

MK Zeev (Shas) supported the bill but said that women need to be encouraged to leave the shelter at a certain point. He wondered if an entitlement would overcrowd the shelters and give women incentive to stay in the shelter longer than they need. He said the focus should be on rehabilitation and not on the entitlement. He said that men who are beaten by their wives have no rights and that is a problem that should be solved soon. He added that even if the husband beats his wife he should be able to see his children and get visiting rights.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) praised the bill and told stories from his visits to the shelters.

MK Wilf (Independence) said that we should put an end to women who are discriminated against because of religious and traditionalist people. She said that if men can’t be around women they should stay at home. She went on slamming the Orthodox and their prohibitions of women, as well as the prohibitions on touch, singing and so on.

The bill passed its first reading 14-0 and was sent to the Welfare Committee.

 

Amendment to the Party Funding Bill

MK Maklev (U.T.J.) stated that the political parties are forced by law to release their finances to the State Comptroller, the Speaker of the House and the political parties’ registry. He explained the amendment would report the parties’ accounts to all three in the same document on the same date. He said that all three recipients of the document support the bill. He added that if elections fall within the period of time the document is supposed to be released the due date of the document will be automatically postponed until after the elections.

MK Ben Ari criticized Knesset Channel 99 for never inviting him to an interview. He noted that he cancelled his newspaper subscription to Ha’aretz this week because the paper has moved further towards the slanted extreme left in the last few weeks.

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

Amendment to the Aviation Services Bill

MK Tibi explained his amendment would present airline customers compensation and assistance for flight cancellations or a change in conditions that causes a delay. He said that this is the most talked about bill in the Knesset and it is the most popular bill he has ever written. He said the compensation will be NIS 1,250 for flights less than 2,000 kilometers; NIS 2,000 for flights between 2,000 and 4,500 kilometers; and NIS 3,000 for flights over 4,500 kilometers. He said that downgrading a passenger’s ticket will result in a 50%, 75% or 100% compensation of the ticket price depending on in which one of the three groups from above the passenger falls. He said that during delays the airline must provide passengers with drinks, a sandwich, one free fax, access to emails and two free phone calls. He said the bill also prohibits overbooking flights or postponing flights for no logical reason. He concluded that the purpose of the bill is to defend passengers from the bullying airline companies. He slammed former Finance Committee Chairman Akunis (Likud) for holding the bill in committee for two years.

MK Maklev praised and supported the bill. He stated this is a great consumer protection bill. He called on exempting from the bill airlines that don’t fly on the Jewish Sabbath in order not to place a penalty on those airlines and force them to fly on the Sabbath.

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

The Monday session lasted almost nine hours and closed just before 1 AM. Eight bills were discussed, including two highly contested bills. Seven bills were advanced after passing their first readings and one bill became law. Most of the session was spent discussing the Selection of Bar Association Representatives to the Judicial Appointments Committees Bill and the Prohibition of Defamation Bill. You can check out my analysis of the bills under my latest radio show interview link. https://knessetjeremy.com/2011/11/23/knesset-jeremy-radio-interview-on-grunis-and-bar-association-bills/ More importantly, you can read all of the MKs speeches below.

Non-Bills Summary

* Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The Netanyahu government is destroying the public health system in Israel’ was defeated 38-51 with one MK abstaining and 30 MKs not present.

* Labor and Meretz’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘The silencing, intimidation, and oppression of free thought in the country of any criticism against the government and the attempt to silence the judiciary, media, academia and civil society organizations’ was defeated 37-54 with 29 MKs not present.

* Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘The onslaught of anti-democratic and racist legislation’ was defeated 33-57 with 30 MKs not present.

* Speaker Rivlin gave a speech marking the 34th anniversary of former Egyptian President Sadat’s visit to Israel and the Knesset.

* House Committee Chairman Levin (Likud) announced that MK Danon (Likud) will replace him in the Justice, Law and Constitution Committee.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Eilat Free Trade Zone Bill

Funds Committee Chairman Gafni (U.T.J.) explained the amendment would restore the 10% income tax deduction for Eilat residents that was repealed in 2003. He noted that those who earn more than NIS 227,640 a year will not receive the benefit under this amendment. He slammed the government’s legal adviser for opposing the bill and informed the coalition that the government officially does not have a position on the bill.

The bill passed its second reading 91-0.

The bill passed its third reading 92-0.

Finance Minister Steinitz (Likud) thanked the Knesset for supporting the bill.

MK Amnon Cohen (Shas) thanked the Knesset for supporting the bill he co-sponsored in the previous term with MK Sa’ar (Likud).

Amendment to the Selection of Bar Association Representatives to the Judicial Appointments Committees Bill

MK Ilatov (Y.B.) explained his bill would ensure that the two Bar Association representatives on the Judicial Appointments committees will be selected by two thirds of the Bar Association council. He stated that one member will be chosen from the coalition and one member from the opposition. He noted that the two MKs chosen to that committee represent the coalition and opposition.

MK Barakeh (Hadash) said that this bill is a disgrace and charged that this bill was brought at this time in order to grant Justice Minister Neeman a majority in the Judicial Appointments committees. He said it is an anti-democratic bill that is illogical.

MK Swaid (Hadash) said this is another bill in a line of bills that is tailor fitted for a particular person, which clearly defies the democratic spirit. He stated that the bill is another bill of McCarthyism and racism. He warned this bill is part of the revolution against the Supreme Court and it violates the independence of the Bar Association.

MK Khenin (Hadash) said we are among dark days when the government that is elected fights against those who try to keep it down. He warned that we are viewing the end of democracy as the Likud fights against the 11 Supreme Court justices. He quoted Likud’s first Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who was against changing the rules for selecting the Supreme Court.

MK Gal-On (Meretz) slammed the bill as a way to promote corrupt political deals. She asked how a council can select candidates with two thirds of a majority without a deal. She slammed the chauvinism of not selecting female members to the judicial selection committee.

MK Gilon (Meretz) called the bill a donkey and slammed the government for using its power to push through bills which the public disagrees with. He said that he is tired of quoting Begin and Jabotinsky, but he misses their views compared to what the Likud has become today.

MK Horowitz (Meretz) noted that the first draft of the bill that passed its preliminary reading conflicted with the Basic Law: Judges. He disagreed with the view that the changes in the second draft corrected the problem. He expressed hope that this allows the Supreme Court to veto the bill.

MK Cabel (Labor) blasted the bill as another in a line of ticking bombs the government has supported over the last few weeks that is destroying Israel’s democracy. He suggested introducing Legislative Idol to replace Israel/American Idol and turn legislation into a game show where the public gets to vote.

MK Herzog (Labor) charged that the government is silencing the courts and the press. He warned that the public will be hurt the most, not the opposition. He suggested that the lawyers would have chosen different representatives if they had known that this bill would be advanced now since it changes the game in the middle.

MK Braverman (Labor) slammed Justice Minister Neeman for his previous bill which changed the distribution of the Bar Association and for this bill. He charged that Neeman doesn’t respect the legacies of Begin and Jabotinsky.

MK Majadele (Labor) said he wasn’t surprised by this bill or any of the others; rather, he was surprised that his opposition friends expected anything else from the extreme right wingers. He slammed the government and its members, calling them a bunch of racists. He called Foreign Minister Liberman the tail of Olmert’s government.

MK Bielski (Kadima) said that he felt a sense of urgency when he woke up at 5 AM in order to make it to Rotem’s committee meeting that was advancing this bill at 8 AM. He asked why Ilatov’s bill is fast tracked while his bills wait in committee for months. He asked why the government is turning against democracy when their approval ratings and poll standings are at the highest of the term.

MK Zahalka (Balad) called the bill a political one that will seal the deal for selecting another conservative judge to the Supreme Court bench. He stated that the government will change the bill to their advantage in another few years after the next bar association elections if they don’t like the results.

MK Zoabi (Balad) slammed the bill as another in the line of bills aimed to politicize the courts and the press. She said the Israeli courts were damaged before these bills but after them the courts will look a lot worse.

MK Avital (Kadima) slammed the legislative activism targeted at the four leftist liberal strongholds of Israeli democracy: the Supreme Court, the media, academia and the NGOs. He revealed that he has criticisms of those four entities but he feels that these bills go too far. He warned that the arrogance of this legislative activism compared to the judicial activism is a lot more dangerous.

MK Molla (Kadima) called Justice Minister Neeman the navigator hired by Yisrael Beitenu and the extreme right to wreak havoc on the Supreme Court. He warned that the government is fighting against anyone who hinders their ability to rule. He suggested that the MKs should examine eliminating the lawyers’ participation in selecting judges. He said that this Knesset stinks and the government should stop opposing human rights.

MK Shai (Kadima) said those who hold Israel’s democracy dear are going through tough times. He said that the government seeks to control the democracy by destroying the democratic institutions that oppose the government. He said the press, the courts and the NGOs protect Israel’s democracy and the government is slowly removing bricks from Israel’s democratic wall.

MK El-Sana (R.T.) said that all prisoners claim to be innocent and everyone else is guilty, just like crazy people think that everyone outside of the asylum are the crazy ones. He linked those situations to the Knesset who thinks they are sane when in fact they are insane.

MK Sarsur (R.T.) stated that he represents the Palestinian minority within Israel and the courts are meant to protect the minority that he represents. However, he said, they can’t provide justice when the book of laws is racist.

MK Ganaim (R.T.) blasted the bill he called anti-democratic and said it is another bill that takes Israel closer to a dictatorship that controls all branches of government.

MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) slammed the government for supporting a bill that was rushed through committee and for which no experts were brought in to show both sides of the coin. He accused the Likud of trying to earn points in the future primaries.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) asked why when the Sharon government fast tracked the Disengagement Bill through committee without any experts speaking the left was silent but suddenly they are up in arms when they have to drink their own medicine. He recalled that it was Kadima’s Justice Minister Friedman who began the current fight against the Supreme Court and explained the current government simply picked it up.

MK Zeev (Shas) asked how this bill kills Israel’s democracy. He asked how when the Supreme Court cancels Knesset bills and the Knesset fights against it, that is considered anti-democratic. He said that if Israel wants democracy they must copy the American model where there are elections for district judges and the President appoints Supreme Court justices with Senate approval. He slammed the current system where Supreme Court justices choose their successors and said that is anti-democratic.

MK Eldad (N.U.) said we are playing musical chairs over what democracy is. He recalled a few years ago when Kadima was against the activism of the Supreme Court and now suddenly they are supporting it once again. He stated that Netanyahu is weak, has no backbone and is easily persuaded by the number of times the word “fascism” is said in an opposition speech or an article in a leading newspaper.

MK Ariel (N.U.) thanked the Kadima MKs who voted for him and allowed him to become the opposition’s representative to the judicial appointment committees and trusted him to protect the Supreme Court. He said those who think the Supreme Court can veto Knesset’s bills are the ones who are anti-democratic. He noted that the committee is filling 20 court positions and called on the opposition to send him emails with the judges they support or oppose.

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) called this bill a big mistake and said it could be a boomerang that at a later point will be used against them. He slammed the government for changing the majority needed to approve a judge from five to seven members of the committee. He said that is one example of how the government has been had, since now the Supreme Court judges have a veto power.

MK Whbee (Kadima) said that this government appoints judges according to political associations. MK Ariel slammed Whbee for damaging the standing of the Supreme Court by charging that the judges were appointing new judges because of political associations. Whbee rejected Ariel’s claims and said every selection by every committee has been political.

MK Orbach (J.H.) said that Israel is one nation but they are divided into two when it comes to defining everything that happens. He called on the left to divide the pie of the academia, press and judges to give to the right.

MK Plesner (Kadima) asked why the Knesset is arguing into the night over this bill instead of staying up all night trying to solve the housing crisis or improve Israelis’ education.

MK Bar-On (Kadima) said this bill passed its preliminary reading less than a week ago and the express train has brought it up for a vote on its first reading that will be conducted in a few minutes. He slammed MK Rotem for his treatment of MK Gal-On during the committee meeting and suggested he broke the record for using his gavel in one session. He rejected the claim that justices should be selected by their DNA.

Environment Minister Erdan (Likud) expressed government support for the bill. He warned the opposition not to cry wolf with their claims of the death of Israel’s democracy, because one day the public may no longer buy it when there is a real anti-democratic bill.

The bill passed its first reading 45-35 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

MK Molla announced he voted for the bill by mistake. Speaker Rivlin said he wouldn’t change his vote.

Amendment to the Prohibition of Defamation Bill

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained that this bill is a merger of his bill and another bill. He stated that there is a fine line between freedom of expression or the press and freedom of a person’s good name. He slammed journalists who write things against public figures without any facts or reliable sources. He noted that he presented the original Prohibition of Defamation Bill that was passed in 1998 and several of the nine amendments since. He explained this amendment increases the maximum amount a journalist must pay for violating the law from NIS 50,000 to NIS 300,000. He slammed those who oppose the bill and told them that journalists who write false things should not be protected. He stressed that it is the media’s job to write the truth. He reminded everyone that this bill is already on the books and said extending the maximum penalty doesn’t mean the courts will give everyone the maximum. He presented the second bill, sponsored by MK Levin, which forces a journalist to include the response of the public figure that is being charged or slandered in the article. He said that if the journalist refuses to include the public figure’s response in the article the journalist will have to pay over NIS 1 million. He slammed those who suggested that someone who is slandered in an article should not have a chance to give his side of his story. He stressed this bill will raise the standards of journalism and create a balance between a person’s good name and freedom of the press.

MK Gal-On (Meretz) said this is a bad bill that kills investigative reporting on corruption because reliable credible sources are hard to come by. She slammed Sheetrit for trying to silence democracy and slammed Levin for trying to censor the press. She stated that MKs have immunity from the law anyway so this bill seems pointless.

MK Horowitz (Meretz) said that this bill encourages public figures to sue the press and come away with tons of money. He slammed the bill for trying to kill the gray area of journalism and for forcing journalists to print the other side of the story. He warned that if this bill passes he plans to sue all the ultra-orthodox papers for writing slander on him and other gays.

MK Barakeh (Hadash) slammed the press for slandering him when he was charged of crimes but didn’t print that two of the charges were dropped before his trial even started. He said that although he despises the press, he feels this bill will bring Israel towards fascism by limiting the independence of the press and spreading fear through those who oppose the government. He called the bill an assassination of freedom of expression.

MK Gilon (Meretz) said investigative reporting and smaller papers will be hurt most by this bill.

MK Swaid (Hadash) labeled the bill a terrorist bill aimed at killing freedom of expression and freedom of the press. He called Sheetrit and Levin extremists. He said this bill will be great for lawyers who stand to profit from this bill.

MK Khenin (Hadash) called the bill an extreme, wild and murderous sanction on the press. He said that NIS 50,000 was already too high and NIS 300,000 is lunacy and will lead media outlets to drop journalism insurance for their journalists. He said this bill will shut up the public and make regular people think twice before saying something. He called the bill a danger to democracy and a very lethal measure that must be blocked.

MK Agbaria (Hadash) said he thinks this bill is setting the groundwork for something big and that after the bill is passed certain people are going to be brought down. He accused the Likud of moving from Begin to Feiglin and the government for becoming extreme and fascist.

MK Yachimovich (Labor) gave a personal story from when she was with Channel 2, where the channel issued an apology in order to avoid a NIS 20 million law suit in America.

MK Cabel (Labor) said he understood Levin, who is the middle of a nationalist blitz of bills, but he can’t understand Sheetrit, who is supposed to be a moderate. He accused the bill of shutting up the press and promoting positive pieces.

MK Herzog (Labor) said criticism is legitimate and democratic. He slammed the government for not understanding that and for trying to silence all criticism. He told Sheetrit that although he means well he is harming the watchdog of Israel’s democracy. He said the fourth branch of power and government is the press and the government is trying to silence them.

MK Braverman (Labor) told Sheetrit that his bill is dangerous and said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

MK Zoabi (Balad) said that the NGOs are being punished for exposing what the press refused to expose. She stated that the press barely criticizes the government as it is. She said she doesn’t understand why the government feels this bill is necessary since the press is silent when it comes to the crimes committed against the Palestinian Arabs in Israel and outside of it. She said she is against this bill because the government is for this bill.

MK Molla (Kadima) said he supports Sheetrit’s bill but not Levin’s. He said he can’t support a bill that is proposed by the extreme right and said that Israel’s democracy is in danger. He called on the press to be fair and hopefully that would help them avoid these type of measures. He said he prefers freedom of the press over this extreme measure.

MK Shai (Kadima) stated this bill is silencing the press. He said the public should oppose the bill and slammed the majority of Israelis who support it.

MK Ganaim (R.T.) slammed the bill because it increases the penalty and said that bills that increase the penalty don’t work. He blasted the bill as an attempt to cut off the Israeli democracy’s head. He attacked the bill as a message to scare the media and public.

MK Avraham Balila (Kadima) said this bill will attack bloggers and facebook users. She called the bill a fascist embarrassment and slammed her fellow party member Sheetrit. She said that freedom of expression and the press is more important than the right to a person’s good name and protection against false slander.

MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) said the worst part about the bill is the timing. He also criticized the merging of the two bills and rejected the idea that the two can be talked about as one package. He blasted the bill as anti-democratic and said that he will vote against it.

MK Orlev (J.H.) announced that he understands the bill will be watered down in committee and that the chairman plans on splitting the bills into two. He said this bill will heal the sickness of the many lies in the press without harming democracy. He called on the MKs to let the bill advance and reserve their judgments for the final version of the bill.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) said that today he cancelled his subscription to the leftist Ha’aretz newspaper. He asked why certain MKs are asking to allow the press to do whatever they want without clear consequences. He said this bill is needed and well deserved. He called on investigative reporting to print facts and not rumors.

MK Zeev (Shas) said that journalists don’t care who they hurt and write things about public figures like they are not human beings. He said journalists violate human rights against people they slander. He invited people to learn with him about slandering from the Jewish books of Chofetz Chaim.

MK Hotovely (Likud) said that she supports freedom of expression and protection of the minorities. She slammed the press for losing touch and the balance between freedom of expression and reporting the truth. She said that this bill will harm the smaller papers which are the nationalist papers that have small pockets. She said that despite that she feels this bill is important and she will support it. She rejected the statement that public figures should just take it when lies are printed about them that hurt their public opinion.

MK Orbach (J.H.) said that certain MKs and ministers have such a bad name to begin with that a NIS 300,000 bonus from shutting down a paper is ridiculous. He blasted the bill and told Levin that he must have gone nuts. He announced that he will not support this bill and will embrace the punishment from the coalition. He warned this bill will kill the religious and nationalist papers, not the leftists.

MK Whbee (Kadima) said that he understands that all Sheetrit’s bill does is raise the punishment from NIS 50,000 to NIS 300,000. He said that many Kadima MKs will vote for that bill if the bills are split into two as Rotem promises.

MK Plesner (Kadima) slammed Justice Minister Neeman, who he said acts as Netanyahu’s personal lawyer and not as a minister. He said that because Neeman is not an elected official he doesn’t have to answer to anyone except the person who appointed him – Netanyahu. He said it is a problem that Israel is the only democracy without a constitution and that Neeman and Rotem can define democracy according to their agenda.

MK Ariel (N.U.) told Plesner that under this bill if he didn’t have immunity that he would be sued for spreading lies about a minister. He said the problem is that certain MKs are spreading lies. He stressed that the courts decide if a person is guilty and if they receive a fine of 50,000, 300,000 or 3,000. He slammed the Kadima MKs for accusing Supreme Court President Beinisch of corruption and spreading lies. He stated that if people weren’t spreading lies these types of bills wouldn’t have been proposed.

MK Peretz (Labor) said that every politician has found himself in the situation that lies are being spread about them across the front pages of newspapers and leading television news shows. He said although the press needs to change this bill is not the way to do it. He stated the press must change from within and the Knesset can’t force it to through these types of laws. He suggested to the press to stop hiring guys in their young 20s who have no idea what they are writing about and no clue about politics or government. He revealed he will vote against the bill.

MK Bielski (Kadima) said that the press probably deserves this bill because they haven’t regulated themselves when it comes to printing false articles. He said that despite the fact that the press deserves it, the government is doing it for the wrong reasons, so he will vote against it.

MK Rotem (Y.B.) asked the Kadima MKs why they are attacking the government for these bills when they didn’t even read the bills. He noted that it was two Kadima MKs Sheetrit and Yisrael Hasson who sponsored the two bills. He said that Sheetrit wanted NIS 500,000 but needed to accept Levin and Hasson’s NIS 300,000 when the bills were merged. He revealed that he saved Sheetrit’s bill, which was opposed by the government, by merging it with Levin’s; however, he is willing to split the bills up in order to watch Kadima kill Sheetrit’s bill and prove their hypocrisy.

MK Ilatov (Y.B.) wished everyone a good morning. He asked why the argument is over NIS 250,000 and not over journalism’s ethics which have been lowered year after year. He said that if the journalists refuse to regulate their ethics somebody needs to. He revealed that the previous bill that was discussed, which he sponsored, was mentioned in about 200 articles and only two articles asked him for his response.

MK Bar-On (Kadima) said the legal issue is that someone will now be able to receive NIS 300,000 without proving that he lost money due to the slander. He said that he is against every part of the bill and called on everyone to oppose it.

Environment Minister Erdan (Likud) expressed government support for the bill. He said that the law says that if you don’t lie you don’t have to pay anyone. He added that the bill doesn’t expand those eligible to sue or force the judges to give a certain sentence. He said it is heartless to put wives and children through embarrassment because of lies. Speaker Rivlin announced he would vote against the bill and defy the government’s wishes. Erdan argued with Rivlin for several minutes.

The bill passed its first reading 42-31 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Amendment to the Value Added Tax Bill

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) explained the amendment would change the VAT rules for companies that have business deals consisting of NIS 15 million a year or more. He added the amendment also increases penalties for companies that don’t comply with the VAT rules.

MK Khenin warned that turning the Supreme Court judges into politicians leads to situations like George Bush being selected as the President of the United States over Al Gore, who received more votes.

MK Sheetrit said this bill is a good bill and hoped that it will help small businesses compete against bigger companies. He suggested that businesses that make less than NIS 70,000 a year should not have to file a long tax return and it should be one page. He asked how a company that makes less than NIS 70,000 can pay their accountant NIS 12,000 just to avoid breaking the law.

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

Temporary Provision Amendment to the Security Service Bill

Minister Peled (Likud) explained the temporary provision allows draftees to be drafted to police service instead of army. He stated this extension will last until the end of 2015.

MK Ariel revealed that no committee meeting discussed the extension of the temporary provision. He said he opposes drafting soldiers into police service and told the government to fund the police department and pay them normal wages, not the draftees’ NIS 300 monthly salary.

MK Sheetrit recalled when he approved 1,500 soldiers to be transferred to the traffic police. He recalled the point was to fund 250 squad cars to increase traffic control. He said he was disappointed that the police chose to use the money for other causes and never purchased the cars.

MK Ben Ari said that army is a service to the country and the police is a place of work. He said our children should be sent to the army, not the police. He noted that religious policemen are discriminated against compared to the army, where they have rights. He said that it is wrong for the country to save money by sending free labor to the police and lower the number of active soldiers that are protecting our borders.

Minister Peled responded that it is a just bill and that soldiers should be used in other areas besides security.

The bill passed its first reading 13-2 and was sent to the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.

Amendment to the Securities Bill

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen explained that the amendment regulates the obligations of co-signer certificates and contracts.

MK Sheetrit said that most co-signers can’t pay their obligations so this bill is pretty irrelevant.

The bill passed its first reading 12-0 and was sent to the Funds Committee.

Amendment to the Regional Councils Bill

Minister Nahari (Shas) explained the amendment would force all regional councils to have the same date for general elections starting in 2018. He added that the bill shortens the hours that army voting stations are open.

MK Sheetrit supported the bill and took partial credit claiming it was his idea back when he was Interior Minister. He called for computer elections for the regional councils. He said that would prevent the dead from voting and elections could be called within 30 days.

The bill passed its first reading 11-0 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Amendment to the Rights of Crime Victims Bill

MK Bielski explained his amendment would increase the punishment for abandonment after a car accident. He said that hit and runs have become an epidemic and expressed hope this bill would put an end to it. He thanked the MKs who stayed to vote on the bill at 1 AM.

MK Sheetrit congratulated Bielski on the bill and expressed his support. He said in certain states in America a hit and run is considered murder.

The bill passed its first reading 7-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.