Jeremy's Knesset Insider

Last Wednesday’s session lasted about four hours. Seven bills were discussed in their preliminary readings. Three were advanced, three were defeated, and one was turned into a motion to avoid defeat. The government defeated the Anti-Rape Bill that would restrict judges from handing rapists lower sentences for repeated offenses. One of the bills that did advance would raise the sentence of hit-and-run crimes to twenty years.

Non-Bills Summary

• Urgent queries were answered by Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud), Interior Minister Yishai (Shas), and Education Minister Sa’ar (Likud).
• Three motions on the hot topics of the day were discussed at the end of the day by the few MKs that remained. The three motions passed by the votes of 3-1, 10-0 and 5-0-1. They were sent to their relevant committees for further discussion.

Bills Summary

Firefighting and Recovery Service Bill

Interior Committee Chairman MK Azoulay (Shas) explained that his bill from two years ago proves relevant after the Carmel fire. He informed the plenum that his bill would require all cities and local authorities to have a designated firefighting and recovery authority that will protect their citizens. He mentioned the bill would also lower the fire fighters’ retirement age to 57.

Interior Minister Yishai expressed government support for the bill.

MK Yacimovich (Labor) objected to the bill on the grounds that if passed fire fighters will not be able to form a labor union. She blasted Azoulay and alleged that he was worried that fire fighters would go on strike and not put out fires.

MK Chaim Katz (Likud) echoed Yacimovich’s objection.

MK Azoulay asked the two objecting MKs if one blemish in the bill is worth defeating it and risking the lives of citizens in future fires.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 41-0 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

MK Matalon (Y.B.) explained that his amendment would enforce a stricter punishment for offenses that include abandonment after injury.  He congratulated the 3,500 children from Shoham who urged the government to support this bill for months. He informed the plenum that the bill would force those who commit hit and run crimes to pay a higher price. He quoted a study that presented the findings that there have been over a thousand hit and run crimes over the last decade. He stated that the minimum sentence would be raised from seven years to twenty. He called twenty a small number and blasted the courts for accepting plea bargains on the subject.

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz expressed government support for the bill.  He noted that Bielski had a similar bill that did not receive government support and asked Bielski to stop attacking him in the press on the subject because he agreed with Bielski’s bill. Katz demanded an apology.

MK Bielski (Kadima) attacked Katz for lying. He noted that he was given an email from Katz’s assistant in which Katz outlined to the government his opposition to the bill right after he had assured Bielski that he would support it.

Katz denied any connection to his assistant’s email.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 40-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Amendment to the Wage Protection Bill

MK Yacimovich explained that her amendment would allow employees to make tax-deductible donations from their salaries to various government-approved social institutions.

Deputy Defense Minister Vilnai (Labor) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 35-0 and was sent to the Labor Committee.

Motion/Amendment to the National Health Insurance Bill

MK Naffaa (Balad) explained that his amendment would require a doctor to check a child’s weight on a scale as part of a routine check-up. He hoped that this amendment would help doctors detect a child’s obesity before the child became overweight for life.

Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.) expressed the government’s opposition to the bill. He informed the plenum that this matter can be solved as a provision, without the need for legislation. He asked Naffaa to turn the bill into a motion in order to discuss the matter further in a committee.

The motion passed 29-0 and was sent to the Health Committee.

Amendment to the Penal Code Bill

MK ‘Katzeleh’ Katz (N.U.) explained that his amendment would increase punishments for repeated serial offenses. The bill, known informally as the “Anti-Rape Bill”, would no longer allow judges to give repeated offenders a shorter sentence the second time around for the following crimes: murder, attempted murder, rape, pedophilia, human trafficking and drug trafficking. Katzeleh explained that today there are no “serial” crimes in the law.  He said this bill would create the term for the above crimes, and repeated offences would result in escalating sentences.

Katzeleh spent the rest of his speech comparing Netanyahu’s decree of a settlement freeze against the settlers to the decrees of Antiochus the Greek against the Jews during the time of Hanukah. He expressed hope that Netanyahu heard his words from his office and concluded that he plans to work with elements within the Likud to topple Netanyahu and replace him with someone else.

Communications Minister Kahlon (Likud) informed those present that he was relaying an answer from Justice Minister Neeman. He expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that it would interfere with the judge’s discretion and that increased sentences are not the best answer for avoiding repeat offenses. He stated the final argument that the legislative branch should not be dictating what the judicial branch should be doing.

Speaker Rivlin interrupted Deputy Speaker Maklev (U.T.J.) to inform the MKs that the State Comptroller’s report on the state of firefighters in Israel would be released to them thirty minutes before it would be released to the public. Prime Minister Netanyahu entered the plenum and took his seat.

MK Katzeleh thanked Kahlon for reading off the paper that Neeman gave him. He reminded the ministers present that the government has routinely defeated his bills that could have changed the future. He noted a previous bill that he had brought up that called for an increased sentence for an arsonist who sets a fire for nationalistic reasons compared to the current sentence for arson that does not distinguish between criminal and nationalistic motivations.

Katzeleh spent the rest of his speech attacking and screaming at Netanyahu. Netanyahu did not look up from his seat once.

The bill was defeated 12-44.

Minister Braverman (Labor) and MK Majadele (Labor) both voted for the bill. After the vote they explained they meant to vote against the bill.

Amendment to the Housing Loans Bill

MK Ghilon (Meretz) explained his amendment would create a special committee that would determine if a person has adequate references and requirements before being able to submit an application for a mortgage.

Minister Kahlon informed the plenum that he submitted the same bill in the past, and it was defeated. He told Ghilon that he agreed with him and the bill, but that the government opposes the bill. He stated that such a committee exists, but this bill would require all people to use it and therefore the government would not be able to meet the financial requirements.

MK Ghilon attacked Netanyahu for opposing all opposition bills.

The bill was defeated 12-34.

MK Zeev voted from MK Gafni’s place by accident.

Amendment to the National Health Insurance Bill

MK Solodkin (Kadima) explained that her amendment would give senior citizens a 60% discount for prescription drugs.

Deputy Health Minister Litzman expressed the government’s opposition to the bill on the grounds that they already receive a 30% discount. Litzman noted that a 60% discount would place the health ministry at a huge loss for each drug, and they would be forced to raise the prices. Litzman concluded that prescription drugs in Israel are, for the most part, socialized and are among the cheapest in the world.

MK Solodkin slammed the health ministry and the government and called them a bunch of liars who don’t care about the elderly.

The bill was defeated 12-42.

Tuesday’s session lasted about three hours. Five bills were discussed. Two bills were passed in their first readings and three bills were passed in their third readings, becoming law. The new laws include a prohibition on driving along the beach, prohibiting the importing of Israeli flags and forcing the public transportation companies to post updated electronic timetables at main and central stops. Another four bills were split off from the Budget’s Arrangements Bill, after the opposition agreed to support them. MK Amsellem (Shas) was stripped of his position in three of the Knesset committees in response to his vocal opposition to Shas Leader Eli Yishai.

Non-Bills Summary

• 21 MKs and Minister Eitan (Likud) participated in the ‘One Minute Speech’ segment of the day. The main topic was the fire up north and whether an investigation on the government’s conduct was necessary.
• House Committee Chairman MK Levin (Likud) announced that MK Zeev (Shas) would replace MK Amsellem in the Education Committee and MK Michaeli (Shas) would replace Amsellem in the Labor Committee and the Public Appeals Committee. He also informed the plenum that MK Amsellem would replace MK Zeev in the Fight on Drugs Committee. Other changes included MK Molla (Kadima) replacing MK Itzik (Kadima) in the House Committee and MK Shemtov (Y.B.) replacing MK Miller (Y.B.) in the Finance Committee.
• A motion on the “Alarming data on the state of democracy in Israel” was discussed by nine MKs and Minister Eitan. The motion was passed 10-1 and will be discussed further in the plenum at a later date.
• Proposals from the Finance Committee Bill on the division of economic policy for the years 2011 and 2012 were outlined by Funds Committee Chairman MK Gafni (U.T.J.). He explained that he wished to split four bills from the Arrangements Bill because both the coalition and the opposition agreed on them. The splits were approved 13-0, 12-0, 11-0 and 9-0.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Banning Driving on the Beach Bill

Interior Committee Chairman Azoulay (Shas) explained that his amendment would prohibit cars and other automobiles from driving on the sand in and near beaches. He informed that violators would receive a fine but would not serve jail time.

MK Khenin (Hadash) stated that he was pleased to see a bill that he co-sponsored pass. He noted that the bill that was passed in 1977 was never enforced, and he expressed hope that this amendment would change that. He mentioned his frustration towards the government offices that prolonged the passing of the bill.

MK Azoulay thanked his assistants and his co-sponsor MK Khenin.

The bill passed its second reading 14-0.

The bill passed its third reading 14-0.

Amendment to the Flag, Emblem and National Anthem Bill

Finance Committee Chairman Akunis (Likud) explained that the amendment would forbid the importing of Israeli flags into Israel. He called it a festival and celebration for the “Made in Israel” industries.

The bill passed its second reading 12-0.

The bill passed its third reading 13-0.

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

Finance Committee Chairman Akunis explained that the amendment would force public transportation companies to post updated electronic timetables at main and central stops. He informed the plenum that a country-wide public transportation center would be created to collect all of the information in one place.

MK Yacimovich (Labor) thanked Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) and other Knesset officials for supporting the bill.

The bill passed its second reading 14-0.

The bill passed its third reading 14-0.

Amendment to the Securities Bill

Labor Committee Chairman MK Chaim Katz (Likud) explained that his amendment would prohibit the postponement of an individual’s payment and obligation towards a public company that goes bankrupt, including a controlling shareholder.

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

Amendment to the Municipalities Ordinance Bill

MK Ezra (Kadima) explained that his amendment would require cities that are not part of the Israeli police’s “cities without violence” program to form a committee to “eradicate violence”.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) blasted the Palestinians for claiming that the Western Wall was never part of a Jewish state and that the Israeli temple is fiction.

MK Bielski (Kadima), former mayor of Ra’anana, supported the bill and demanded it be expanded.

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

Monday’s session lasted three hours. It was marked as a special session, and only one motion- on the fire up north- was discussed. Most of the MKs did not have a chance to speak because it had been previously determined that the session would end at 15:00. Deputy Speaker Avraham Balila (Kadima) assured the rest of the MKs that they would have a chance to speak about the fire later in the week.

Non-Bills Summary

• Speaker Rivlin opened the session with a motion on the Disaster up North. Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.), who led the government’s response to the fire, summarized the ordeal. 27 MKs and ministers discussed the fire, and most of them called for an investigation into the fire and to increase the fire fighters’ budget.
• Speaker Rivlin greeted Columbia’s Vice President Garson with a warm speech and thanked him for visiting Israel and the Knesset.

Wednesday’ session lasted four hours, cut short due to the first night of Hanukah. Seven bills were briefly discussed during the last thirty minutes and were advanced after passing their preliminary readings. The central issue of the day was the discussion on ‘Netanyahu’s government zigzagging between Bibi’s Bar-Ilan speech and Lieberman’s speech at the UN’, as requested by the signatures of 40 MKs.

Non-Bills Summary

• Urgent queries were answered by Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.), Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.) and Labor and Welfare Minister Herzog (Labor).
• House Committee Chairman MK Levin (Likud) announced the committee’s decisions on which contested bills will be discussed in which committees.
• A discussion on ‘Netanyahu’s government zigzagging between Bibi’s Bar-Ilan speech and Lieberman’s speech at the UN’, as requested by the signatures of 40 MKs, was held. 17 MKs from various parties asked the Prime Minister what his plan was. The Prime Minister responded that the Bar-Ilan speech was the cornerstone of his policy. Opposition Leader Livni mocked Netanyahu by texting during his speech and by reading out the texts when it was her turn to speak. Netanyahu’s response was accepted by a Knesset vote of 53-29.
• The House Committee proposed an amendment to sections of the Knesset Regulations Book. House Committee Chairman MK Levin (Likud) explained the proposed changes would no longer allow MKs to change their vote during a roll-call and would allow deputy ministers to present the government’s response to no-confidence motions. The Knesset approved the changes 24-0.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the State Education Bill

MK Miller (Y.B.) explained that his amendment would allow the appointment of school principles by local authorities to be vetoed by the director-general of the education ministry.

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

The bill passed its preliminary reading 34-0 and was sent to the Education Committee.

Amendment to the Value Added Tax Bill

MK Miller explained that his amendment would allow small businesses to pay their value added taxes on a cash basis.

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

The bill passed its preliminary reading 31-0 and was sent to the Funds Committee.

National Council for Food and Nutritional Security Bill

MK Avraham Balila (Kadima) explained that her amendment would create a council for food and nutritional security. She informed that most Israelis do not eat healthily, and this council will change that for the better.

Labor and Welfare Minister Herzog (Labor) expressed government support for the bill and explained the breakdown of the members of the council.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 19-0 and was sent to the Health Committee.

Amendment to the Disengagement Plan Implementation Bill

MK Elkin (Likud) explained that his amendment would enforce the implementation of the official
Disengagement Commission’s conclusions on the performance of authorities deemed competent for the evacuees of Gush Katif and northern Samaria.

Environment Minister Erdan (Likud) expressed government support for the bill.

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

Amendment to the Military Justice Bill

MK Regev (Likud) explained that her amendment would add provisions regarding the implications of different qualifications in the various criminal convictions under military law. She hoped this bill would help soldiers who smoked a joint have their convictions disappear when they entered civilian life.

Amendment to the Criminal Rehabilitation of Offenders Bill

MK Khenin (Hadash) explained his similar amendment would require a military tribunal in order to register a military conviction for a soldier in his civilian life.

Minister Peled (Likud) expressed government support for both bills.

The bills passed their preliminary readings 14-0 and 10-0. They were both sent to the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.

Amendment to the Employment of Women Bill

MK Schneller (Kadima) explained that his amendment would grant equal rights to those who wish to go abroad in the effort to adopt a child as to pregnant women.

Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Noked (Labor) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 9-0 and was sent to the Labor Committee.

Tuesday’s session lasted about three and a half hours. No bills were discussed, but there were five motions. For most of the day the MKs spoke about ‘International Equal Rights for Disabled People Day’ and ‘International Diabetes Week’, both during their motions and during their one minute speeches.

Non-Bills Summary

• 26 MKs participated in the one-minute speech section that opened the day.
• A motion on International Equal Rights for Disabled People Day was discussed by nine MKs. A motion on International Diabetes Week was discussed by five MKs. Neither motion was voted on.
• Three other motions on the hot topics of the week were discussed. Two of them were sent to committees for further discussion by the votes of 7-0 and 6-0. The last motion was not voted on.