Jeremy's Knesset Insider

Tuesday’s session lasted about four hours, and four bills were discussed. Attendance was light as it usually is on Tuesdays. This upset Transportation Minister Katz, who had shown up for International Road Safety Day.  One of the four bills was passed in its third reading, the other three passed in their first readings. The highlight of the day was the ‘Prohibition of Repairing Vehicles in an Unauthorized Garage’ Bill.

Non-Bills Summary

• 23 MKs participated in the one-minute speech segment that opened the day. The main topic of the day was college students versus the ultra-orthodox.
• Two motions on the Soviet “refuseniks” and International Road Safety Day were discussed but not voted on.
• Labor and Welfare Minister Herzog had a query hour and answered queries from 10 MKs.
• House Chairman MK Levin announced which committee would discuss a bill that had been in dispute.

Bills Summary

Prohibition of Repairing Vehicles in an Unauthorized Garage Bill

MK Michaeli (Shas) explained that his original bill, co-sponsored by MK Cabel (Labor), would stop people from not paying taxes on the repair of their cars and would also solve many safety concerns. He explained the amendment would create a sentence of 18 months in jail for the owner of an unauthorized garage. He said that this bill was in the spirit of International Road Safety Day.

Transportation Minister Katz (Likud) praised the few MKs that showed up for International Road Safety Day and criticized the majority of the house who were absent. He asked that the public judge the MKs who were not present. He also expressed government support for the bill. He noted that at least 14 children have been killed by cars that had bad repairs in unauthorized garages.

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

Amendment to the Energy Sources Bill

MK Khenin (Hadash) explained that the goal of the amendment is the protection of the environment.  He warned that each year the country’s energy needs increase, and his amendment would promote the intelligent use of natural resources and increase energy efficiency. Khenin explained that we have to stop wasting energy and said that we must turn off our lights and air conditioning while we are sleeping.

MK Zeev (Shas) expressed his support for this bill and announced he was against expanding the number of power plants in Israel. He also warned Israelis against global warning.

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

Amendment to the Foundations of the Budget Bill

MK Vaknin (Shas) explained that his amendment would provide an exemption of the government lease fee to communities on the confrontation lines. He explained that people who live or work on the borders of Lebanon, Syria or Gaza will no longer have to pay the Israeli government a leasing fee.

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

Amendment to the Reporting on the activity of the rehabilitation and commemoration of disabled families of the Defense Department

MK Matalon (Y.B.) explained that his amendment would force the Defense Minister to give a report each year on how the defense establishment has distributed money towards rehabilitating and commemorating those who are disabled as a result of serving their country.

The bill passed it second reading 9-0 and passed its third reading 8-0.

Monday’s session lasted a little over four hours, and the opposition spent about two and a half of those hours unsuccessfully trying to bring down the government. The Knesset spent the rest of the day discussing seven bills, passing three in their third readings and four in their first readings. Most of the bills passed were ones that had been pulled out of the Arrangements Bill. The highlights were a public transportation smartcard bill and a bill that would prevent the army from firing women who are pregnant or on maternity leave.

Non-Bills Summary

• Kadima’s no confidence motion titled “Netanyahu’s budget promotes anti-socialism and lays the groundwork for greasing the coalition partners at the expense of students, the public sector workers and young couples” was defeated by a 30-63 vote, with 27 MKs not present.
• The three Israeli Arab parties’ no confidence motion titled “Racist legislation and its impact on democracy and the relationship between Arabs and Jews” was defeated by a 10-65 vote, with 15 abstaining and 30 MKs not present.
• Speaker Rivlin called for a minute of silence in honor of former Labor Minister Katz (Minister from 1977 to 1982) and eulogized the man who passed away on Saturday.
• House Committee Chairman MK Levin (Likud) announced that MK Orlev (J.H.) will replace MK Orbach (J.H.) in the Childs Rights Committee.
• The government transferred authority of all issues regarding forests from Agriculture Minister Simhon (Labor) to Labor and Welfare Minister Herzog (Labor) by a Knesset vote of 11-0.
• The Justice Committee exercised the continuity clause on a previous bill by a 9-0 vote.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Income Tax Ordinance

Funds Committee Chairman Gafni (U.T.J.) explained that this bill was originally part of the Arrangements Bill and had been taken out and discussed in the committee. The amendment places a three month time limit on employers who are submitting 126 and 856 forms, instead of the current four month time limit, beginning in 2013. MK Gafni explained that as part of the Arrangements Bill this amendment was three sentences long, and after the committee discussion it is three and a half pages long. He noted that because of the committee discussion and compromises reached the opposition supports the bill. Speaker Rivlin thanked MK Gafni for taking this bill out of the Arrangements Bill and noted that this way the bill would take effect sooner.

The bill passed its second reading 49-0 and passed its third reading 48-0.

Amendment to the National Insurance Bill

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman Katz (Likud) explained that this amendment was also part of the Arrangements Bill and instead was discussed in the committee. MK Katz explained that the amendment demands that any citizen who is receiving a government payment must inform the government of any change that would no longer entitle them to government payments within thirty days. The amendment would assess a 40,000 NIS fine to those who fake information in order to receive government payments, and repeated offenders would be assessed an 80,000 NIS fine. He explained that the committee decided that notices and warnings must be sent to the citizen before he is charged with a crime that would result in a fine. The committee also decided that this bill will not include citizens who have mental disabilities or the elderly. The committee also allowed an extension from thirty to sixty days for most cases. MK Katz thanked Minister Herzog for helping with this bill. Speaker Rivlin thanked MK Katz for successfully taking this bill out of the Arrangements Bill.

MK Ghilon (Meretz) congratulated the National Insurance executives, who are mostly female. He explained that he objects that there would be no difference between people who accidentally filled out the form incorrectly and those who do so purposely. He explained he also objects to the idea that repeated offenders might be placed in prison for this violation. Ghilon also charged that more people are ripped off by the national insurance than rip the national insurance off. In response to the MKs who were ignoring his speech, he exposed that he was also on Ritalin as a kid, so he understands. He noted a case of a blind female solider that lost her government payments because the national insurance says she can work now. He concluded that he was saddened that most people who are eligible are oblivious to that fact.

MK Ilatov (Y.B.) explained that he and MK Levy-Abekasis (Y.B.) object to the idea that people who violate this law should be sent to jail.

MK Zeev (Shas) also objected to the idea that offenders of this law should be sent to jail.

The bill’s paragraphs passed their second readings 38-1, 38-1, 39-1, 37-1, 34-1 and 32-1, after accepting MK Ilatov’s objections 39-0, 41-0, 39-0, 38-0 and 36-0, while rejecting MK Ghilon’s objections 2-37, 6-35 and 4-30.

The bill passed its third reading 32-1.

Career Service in the Army – the Israel Defense Forces Bill

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman Katz explained that his original bill, co-sponsored by MK Regev (Likud), would prevent the army from firing female soldiers who are pregnant or on maternity leave. It was revealed by the General of Human Resources that 50% of women who were fired from the army were done so due to pregnancy or maternity leave.

MK Regev (Likud) thanked Chairman Katz and expressed frustration that it took a full year to pass this bill. She attacked the I.D.F., who objected to the bill, and praised Defense Minister Barak (Labor) for overruling them.

The bill passed its second reading 15-0 and its third reading 15-0.

Amendment to the ‘Increased Enforcement in the Capital Market’ Bill

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) explained that the amendment would give inspectors the authority to seize private documents and arrest non-licensed workers.

The bill passed its first reading 13-0 and was sent to the Funds Committee.

Amendment to the ‘Maintaining Public Safety and Streamlining the Enforcement’ Bill

Minister Begin (Likud) explained his amendment would create a forfeiture authority inspection. It would also provide greater authority to employees of the police department who are not policemen, such as traffic inspectors.

The bill passed its first reading 14-0 and it was sent to the House Committee to decide which Knesset committee would discuss it.

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

Transportation Minister Katz (Likud) explained that this bill was taken out of the Arrangements Bill. He explained that the amendment would allow passengers of public transportation to have a smart card that would apply for all the different companies. He explained this would allow someone to take a train to a bus to a light rail, all on the same smart card.

The bill passed its first reading 13-0 and was sent to the House Committee to decide which Knesset committee would discuss it.

Amendment to the Execution Bill

Minister Begin explained that his amendment would delay certain aspects of the Execution Bill from being carried out for another six months.

MK Rotem (Y.B.) noted that he had a bad feeling about this bill and something didn’t smell right.

The bill passed its first reading 10-0, and Deputy Speaker Majadele (Labor) added MK Rotem’s vote (even though he did not vote) to make it 11-0. The bill was sent to the Justice Committee.

Wednesday’s session lasted about six and a half hours. Eight bills were discussed.  The Knesset advanced four of them and defeated the others. The bills that were advanced included a consumer protection bill, a crime fighting bill, a health insurance for returning citizens bill and a promoting minors’ rights bill. Most of the day was spent on queries and motions. Deputy Defense Minister Vilnai made headlines when he announced during a query that if he was the general in charge he would have kicked out of the army the religious officers who walked out of a women’s performance for religious reasoning of not wanting to hear “kol ishah” (a woman’s voice) instead of sending them to jail.

Non-Bills Summary

• Urgent queries were answered at the beginning of the session by Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.), Deputy Defense Minister Vilnai (Labor) and Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.).
• 7 motions were discussed towards the end of the session. As usual the MKs chose topics that have been in the news recently.  Four of the seven motions were passed unanimously and were sent to their relevant committees. The votes indicate how many MKs stayed for the motion portion of the day’s agenda and how they gradually decided to leave for the day: 21-0, 12-0, 12-0 and 7-0. The other three motions were not brought up to a vote after the MKs that proposed them were pleased with the government’s rebuttal.
• Deputy Health Minister Litzman and Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon (Y.B.) answered queries at the end of the session.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Communications Law

MK Maklev (U.T.J.) explained that his amendment would forbid commercial companies from using an automatic dialing system that calls a person, hangs up, and forces the person to call the number back, forcing the person to pay unknowingly high rates for the call. Maklev said that he viewed this as a consumer protection law.

Communications Minister Kahlon (Likud) expressed government support for the bill. He explained that while this violation was already outlawed as part of the “Spam Bill”, some companies have found loopholes, and this bill will eliminate them.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 32-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Restricting Religious Activities in the Army – The Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Police Bill

MK Horowitz (Meretz) explained that his original bill would stop Jewish “missionizing” on army bases and police stations. He said that only licensed army and police rabbis should be allowed on army bases. He called for a complete separation of synagogue and state. He attacked the ultra-orthodox and praised the reform Jews. MK Gafni (U.T.J.) heckled that he was more of a Zionist than Horowitz was. Horowitz fired back that the secular majority of the country support this bill. He blasted the Chabad, Breslov Chasidim and other religious groups who carry out illegal religious practices such as the lighting of Hanukah candles, building of Sukkot, and handing out of doughnuts and mishloach manot. Speaker Rivlin interrupted and asked Horowitz to explain his problem with doughnuts. Horowitz responded that these “religious freaks” enter army bases without permission. Speaker Rivlin asked Deputy Defense Minister Vilnai (Labor) if this is true. Vilnai laughed and said that no one enters army bases without permission. Horowitz called the government killers of liberalism and stepped down.

Religious Affairs Minister Margi (Shas) attacked MK Horowitz, who claims to be a person of tolerance and then proposes a bill that is intolerant of religion and religious people. He asked why the Education Corps can bring into army bases lecturers, singers, standup comedians and authors who are not soldiers to preach culture and liberalism, while the Religious Corps can’t bring in people to build a Sukkah or hand out a doughnut. He slammed the Meretz party for claiming to be a universal party that cares for everybody, when all they do is attack the ultra-orthodox and spread “sinat chinam”. Speaker Rivlin added that this bill was racist against the religious because it would not restrict the non-religious people who visit army bases but only the religious people.

MK Horowitz challenged that all of the Education Corps guests that are invited have permission and that Chabad does not have permission. He called religious people damaging to the army. He added that the army should stop sending soldiers to religious institutions for Shabbat. He blasted the government for sending the religious affairs minister instead of the defense minister. Speaker Rivlin uncharacteristically expressed he would fight this bill as illegal on terms of racism if the bill passed.

The bill was defeated 10-54.

Periphery Public Housing bill

MK Tiviaev (Kadima) explained that his original bill would create public housing in the Negev and the Galil. He said that he was sent to the Negev city of Ofakim when he got off the plane from Russia and has been a proud Ofakim resident ever since. He told the story of his neighbor, Yisrael, who asked for public housing and was denied because the government is only giving public housing to people who currently live in the center of the country. He explained that his bill would allow every city in the Galil and Negev to allocate 25% of their public housing to their own city’s residents. Tiviaev complained that for 20 years the country has not built any public housing. He said that he tried to increase that the number, and after realizing that is not possible, wants to at least help the residents in the periphery out of their poverty. He agreed with one of the MKs who mocked him for living in Ofakim and asked the government to change it. He painted the sad picture of Ofakim, that offers no new houses or jobs, and how people are leaving the city for the center of the country. He pledged that this bill is not a budget bill but, rather, a community bill.

Immigration and Absorption Minister Landver (Y.B.) explained that she agreed with MK Tiviaev but that the government opposes the bill. She expressed hope that a committee discussing the public housing issue can offer a solution to this issue. She exposed that 12,000 people this year have submitted requests for 500 public housing vacancies.

MK Tiviaev responded that he finds it very interesting that the minister agrees with the bill and is voting against it. He charged that the government was turning the Negev and Galil into the trash bin of the country and said that those who oppose the bill are the guiltiest.

The bill was defeated 25-49.

Amendment to the National Road Safety Bill

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained his amendment would fix road safety deficiencies by allocating 25% of the payments for traffic violations to the Road Safety Authority. Sheetrit recalled that he started the authority when he was transportation minister over a decade ago. He exposed that Israel has the highest number of pedestrian road fatalities in the world at 30%. He guessed that people would be more willing to pay the fine if they knew that part of the money would go to prevention of traffic accidents. He remarked that Florida has this law, and it is very popular there.

Minorities Relations Minister Braverman (Labor) agreed that road safety should be improved but expressed government opposition to the bill. Braverman said that increasing funding to the police will be the easiest way to improve road safety and prevent accidents. He concluded by stating there is no reason to link one department’s funding to another, and it is important to keep everything on a simpler, national level.

MK Sheetrit responded that he was in shock from the nonsense he heard from the government.

The bill was defeated 25-52.

Local Authorities Highway Maintenance Bill

MK Bielski (Kadima) explained that his original bill would force the government to take responsibility for maintaining the roads which they paved 30 years ago and for which they then transferred the maintenance responsibility to the local authorities. Bielksi wondered if maybe it would have been better to lobby the bill. Speaker Rivlin opposed the bill and warned that it would cost the country billions of NIS each year. Bielski charged that coalition member and Tourism Minister Misezhnikov (Y.B.) was the person who first thought of the bill.

Minorities Relations Minister Braverman expressed government opposition to the bill and explained that most of the blame for that comes from the Israeli government system. He supported a presidential system, similar to America, and said until that point he would have to vote against the bill.

MK Bielski responded that he was disappointed with the government.

The bill was defeated 21-48.

Amendment to the Local Authorities Bill

MK Ezra (Kadima) explained that his amendment would eradicate violence in Israel. He explained that 80 of the over 200 city councils have been part of the “City without violence” program that MK Ezra enacted when he was Homeland Security Minister. He explained that he simply wanted to extend his program from 80 to all of the city councils.

Religious Affairs Minister Margi expressed government support for the bill.

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

Amendment to the National Health Insurance Law

MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) explained that his amendment would, in certain cases, offer exceptions to shorten the waiting period to be entitled to national health insurance. He thanked Deputy Speaker Shama (Likud) for co-sponsoring the bill with him. Hasson explained that, currently, returning citizens who have been gone for a decade are not entitled to national health insurance for six months. He explained that this bill will give these people immediate national health insurance and will help promote the return of citizens living abroad.

Deputy Health Minister Litzman expressed his support and government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 24-0 and was sent to the Health Committee.

Amendment to the Penal Code Bill

MK Levy-Abekasis (Y.B.) explained that her amendment would force the government to award payments of compensation to minors who are injured while victims of a criminal offense. She noted that this bill met the most resistance of all the bills she has proposed.

None of the ministers were in the room. Deputy Speaker Shama decided that since Minister Begin (Likud), who was supposed to be there to answer for the government, was not there he would bring the matter to a vote.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 14-0 with one abstaining and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Tuesday’s session was about two hours. The only bill discussed was one that would give widowers more money from the “kitzbaot” (government payments) than they were entitled to before. The bill falls short of entitling widowers to as much money as widows receive. This led to seven male MKs from various parties complaining that men do not receive equal rights to those given to women. All of the MKs present agreed that they would support more male rights bills in the future. No ministers or female MKs were in attendance.

Non-Bills Summary:

• Only 16 MKs participated in the weekly ‘One Minute Speech’ segment. The main topic was the budget passed the previous night after 1 AM.
• The only motion of the day was one marking the 60^th anniversary of the ‘Development Towns’ project, known as the “Pituach” cities in Hebrew. Speaker Rivlin started the discussion on the motion, six MKs followed him and Deputy Galil and Negev Minister Kara (Likud) summarized the discussion. There was no vote on the motion.

Bill Summary:

Amendment to the National Insurance Bill

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman MK Katz (Likud) explained his amendment would increase the government payment to a widower to 6,000 NIS. He explained that the current law only entitles a widower to minimum wage, as opposed to the 8,500 NIS per month that widows receive. He hoped that in the future he could propose a bill that would bring true equality.

MK Molla (Kadima) complained that women get more money than men and called for true equality by giving the widowers 8,500 NIS instead of just 6,000 NIS.

MK Majadele (Labor) praised MK Katz on what he called one of the most important bills that he has ever seen. He stressed that this bill should have been passed long ago. He also thanked the co-sponsor of the bill MK Azoulay (Shas).

MK Zeev (Shas) said that this is among the great bills that are being passed in today’s age. He also praised the two-year budget that passed its first reading on Monday.

MK Plesner (Kadima) would not begin his speech because there was no minister in the room. When Deputy Speaker Danon (Likud) assured him that Communications Minister Erdan (Likud) was around, Plesner remarked that there was no minister in the room, unless Erdan had changed his identity. Plesner challenged MK Katz, who he said possessed parliamentary talents for convincing the treasury to support this bill, to press other social issues and include them to improve the proposed two-year budget.

MK Khenin (Hadash) celebrated the passing of the bill by complementing everyone involved with the bill. He called on MK Katz to pass more laws that will give equal rights to men. He added that this bill must be brought back to the plenum as soon as possible in order to pass it in its second and third readings. He criticized the government for not proposing the bill themselves.

MK Rotem (Y.B.) blessed MK Katz, MK Azoulay and the government. He blasted MK Khenin for attacking the government, noting that the bill is co-sponsored by two coalition MKs.

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

It should be noted that there was no minister in the plenum during the entire discussion of the bill.

Monday’s session lasted nine and a half hours, ending at 1:30 AM. More than six of those hours were devoted to the opposition’s filibuster of the Bi-Annual Budget and the attached Arrangements Bill. At the end of the night the budget and Arrangements Bill passed their first readings 62-34 and 61-34, respectively. The opposition withdrew their weekly no-confidence motions in order to devote more time to opposing the budget. Two bills were removed from the Arrangements Bill and were discussed and voted on separately. I discuss in this post the two bills that were separated at length. As with past filibusters I chose not to write what each speaker said in order to keep my daily posts relevant and concise.

Combining Work Recipients Bill/Wisconsin Bill

Industry and Trade Minister Ben-Eliezer (Labor) explained that two years ago he was one of the biggest opponents of this bill but over time has come to support it. He said that this is the third time that this bill is being proposed and that he is willing to make changes to the current draft based on valid opposition to the bill. Ben-Eliezer said that it is unacceptable that 80,000 people have turned the government “kitzbaot,” or allowance payments, into a way of life. This bill will encourage people receiving kitzbaot, whether they are disabled, ultra-orthodox or a single mother, to go out into the work force. The minister admitted that the trial run of the bill had many flaws but warned that maintaining the status quo was more dangerous. He noted that the country will save money when these people have jobs and their kitzbaot are reduced. Ben-Eliezer asked the opposition to have a genuine debate with him and that he will attempt to meet them halfway. MK Sarsur (R.T.) heckled the speech.

MK Ghilon (Meretz) showed his ignorance at the start of his speech by calling Wisconsin a “nice city” in the northern United States. He added that Wisconsin sounds like Wissotzky tea. He said that the cost of the bill is four times the reward, although he did not say where he came up with that number.

MK Zuaretz (Kadima) slammed the ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel, saying that around the world their community works and only in Israel do they make money from not working. She expressed her concern that the problematic bill would place the lives of poor people in private company hands.

MK Solodkin (Kadima) recalled that the trial run of the Wisconsin Bill failed, and Labor Committee Chairman MK Chaim Katz (Likud) decided to end the trial run. She asked how a bill that sends 60-year-olds to train for a new job or sends new immigrants who don’t speak Hebrew to do Hebrew speaking jobs would work. She challenged that the Wisconsin Bill in the U.S. was successful because it was not as wide spread as Israel’s version would be. She charged that college graduates were working in minimum wage jobs.

MK Oron (Meretz) challenged the idea of sending those targeted by the Wisconsin Bill to private companies instead of giving them government jobs. He explained that since 2004 he has rejected this clause of the bill. He also asked that certain groups be exempt from participating in the bill. He challenged that no country has taken as many liberties with the bill as Israel has. He slammed Israel for being the only country to enact the bill without creating new jobs first. He also noted that in the trial run most of the people took degrading jobs.

MK Barakeh (Hadash) asked why the Likud would bring back a bill they rejected in a committee a number of weeks ago. He questioned if this was the first step that Israel is taking away from socialism and towards capitalism. Barakeh said that the government has a responsibility for those who collect money from the government and remarked that there is no reason for these people to work. He mentioned his belief that this will help the private companies slowly take over the country.

MK Swaid (Hadash) said that the bill does not create more jobs and that it will actually increase unemployment by flooding the workforce.

MK Agbaria (Hadash) challenged that if the bill was so good it wouldn’t take six years to pass. He asked why this bill is more important than a bill to fight unemployment. He wondered if the bill was connected to the private interests that would receive the cheap labor. He added that the jobs being discussed are mostly degrading jobs, and some of them cause health problems.

MK Tibi (R.T.) said that unemployment is not a fun thing. He expressed his feeling that this bill might give some unemployed people jobs, but they would be humiliating jobs so he was against the bill. He asked the government to focus on creating jobs instead. He said the ugliest girl cannot be saved by cosmetics.

MK Levy-Abekasis (Y.B.) thanked Speaker Rivlin for pressing Netanyahu and taking this bill out of the Arrangements Bill in order to have a detailed discussion. She approved the changes and said she was a fan of the current draft of the bill. She expressed hope that in the committee meetings there would be more encouraging updates.

MK Zahalka (Balad) said that this draft is the worst of the bill to date. He noted several “goats” that were placed in the bill, allowing Ben-Eliezer to take them out in order to distract everyone from the rest of the bill. Speaker Rivlin said that he agreed with MK Zahalka. Zahalka noted that during the trial period the companies that participated made money and the workers lost their dignity.

MK Yacimovich (Labor) noted that the Labor Committee discussed the bill and decided to reject it, therefore there is no reason to discuss it in the plenum. She revealed that a billion and a half NIS will be given to private companies that hire Wisconsin Project people. She slammed all the corrupt lobbyists who went door to door supporting the law. She blasted the idea that this bill would do any good for anyone aside from the private businesses. She assured the plenum that if this bill would be passed the Labor Committee would bury the law permanently.

MK El-Sana (R.T.) said that it is impossible to force someone to work if they don’t want to. He rejected the idea that people are collecting unemployment on purpose.

MK Molla (Kadima) charged that a corrupt bargain was struck between Labor and the Ultra-Orthodox parties in which they would agree to support both the Wisconsin Bill and the Giving Yeshiva Students Money Bill. He said that both are bad bills.

Industry and Trade Minister Ben-Eliezer responded by repeating that the current draft of the bill is a new bill and that the 13 MKs who spoke quoted the old bill. He said he heard a lot of reasons why they thought it was a bad bill but not one MK gave him an alternative. He assured that each individual is interviewed and given the right job for them. He responded to MK Solodkin that academics are not being given minimum wage jobs. He responded to MK Oron that he agrees that the government should also hire Wisconsin Project people. He responded to MK Tibi that there are no humiliating jobs and that making a living is an important value. He responded to MK Levy-Abekasis that the bill was a good bill and she shouldn’t worry.  Ben-Eliezer summarized that the current draft of the bill is a good one and called on all the MKs to support it.

The bill passed its first reading 57-34 and was sent to the Labor Committee. 29 MKs were not present in the room to vote.

Amendment to the Broadcasting Authority Bill

Communications Minister Kahlon (Likud) explained that this bill will help reform the Public Broadcasting Authority to meet the challenges of the future including technology and professionalism.

MK Oron blasted the minister for reading out a piece of paper that was given to him and said that Kahlon didn’t understand it. He warned that this bill would allow the political establishment to control the public broadcast by appointing its key figures. Deputy Speaker Whbee screamed at Minister Ben-Eliezer, who was on his cell phone instead of listening to the debate. Oron slammed the clause that would introduce an internet tax in addition to the television tax.

MK Horowitz (Meretz) told the Knesset that the problem with the public broadcast is that the government controls it and that this bill will reinforce that control. He noted that the bill will allow the government to appoint all 13 board members, beyond the director-general. He summarized that this bill will kill public broadcasting as we know it.

MK Shamalov Berkovich (Kadima) called the new public broadcast the BBC or the Bi-Bi-See, what Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu will allow the public to see. She noted that some of the changes in the reform won’t take effect until 2026 and questioned their legitimacy.

MK Barakeh rejected the bill as any type of reform. He said that he supported real public broadcasting and not the government funding its own television station. He also said he opposed the television tax. He asked how there can be real public broadcasting when its employees are forced to support the government or get fired.

MK Eldad (N.U.) blasted the television tax. He said that public broadcasting had been left-wing for too long and did not represent the average Israeli on the street. He warned that the new problem is that the government turned public broadcasting into a government television station and he opposed that too. He slammed the internet tax. Eldad asked if there will be a binocular tax too.

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) said this was a bad bill from a bad government. He also criticized the television tax and the decision to raise it. He noted that half of the population doesn’t pay the television tax anyway.

MK Akonis (Likud) defended the bill and said he would rather the government control public broadcasting than the judges, as it was before. He added that this bill will help the channel work as a fair and balanced channel.

MK Plesner (Kadima) compared the bill to a Soviet Union bill and said this will bring the country back to the 1950s. He said that it was a corrupt bill.

• It should be noted that public television in Israel started in the mid-1960s.

MK Sarsur called to abolish public broadcasting and the television tax once and for all. He noted that there are over 400 Arabic channels and asked why money is being wasted on an Israeli Arab television channel.

MK Zeev (Shas) said that there is no control and that each broadcaster makes his political opinion known. He expressed support for the bill and the reform. He stressed that television needs an overall reform to protect our children from it. He added that areas that do not have television reception should not have to pay the television tax.

Communications Minister Kahlon confessed he had no authority over public broadcasting. He added that Netanyahu was not the first prime minister to be the minister in charge of public broadcasting. He added that without this bill passing public broadcast will be out of money and will cease to exist. Kahlon revealed that he watches channel 1 more than cable or satellite and thanked the 10 speakers for their valid and invalid concerns.

The bill passed its first reading 55-31. The bill was supposed to be sent to the Finance Committee, but MK Orlev (J.H.) contested it asking to send the bill to the Education Committee, which he chairs. This forced Speaker Rivlin to send the bill to the House Committee to decide which committee will discuss the bill further.

The MKs spent three hours discussing these two bills alone.

Bi-Annual Budget 2011-2012 and Arrangements Bill

Finance Minister Steinitz presented the budget to the Knesset for its first reading. 25 of the 46 opposition MKs participated in a filibuster opposing the budget that lasted hours. 16 of Kadima’s 28 MKs participated in the filibuster and they were: MK Bar-On, MK Plesner, MK Tirosh, MK Solodkin, MK Dicter, MK Molla, MK Shamalov Berkovich, MK Tiviaev, MK Hermesh, MK Zuaretz, MK Adatto, MK Whbee, MK Bielski, MK Israel Hasson, MK Yoel Hasson, and MK Sheetrit.

There are currently 18 opposition MKs not from Kadima, and nine of them participated in the filibuster.  They were:  MK Tibi (R.T.), MK Eldad (N.U.), MK Swaid (Hadash), MK Zahalka (Balad), MK Ganaim (R.T.), MK Ariel (N.U.), MK Ghilon (Meretz), MK Oron (Meretz), and MK Naffaa (Balad).

Eight coalition MKs gave short speeches during the filibuster, naming a few things they opposed in the budget but supporting the budget overall. The MKs who spoke were: MK Gafni (U.T.J.), MK Kirshenbaum (Y.B.), MK Cohen (Shas), MK Orbach (J.H.), MK Ben Simon (Labor), MK Zeev (Shas) and MK Majadele (Labor).

Following the filibuster Finance Minister Steinitz responded to a few of the coalition members’ concerns on the budget and called for a vote.

The Knesset passed the budget 62-34 with 24 MKs not present for the vote. The Arrangements Bills attached to the budget passed 61-34.

The coalition had 12 MKs missing from the budget vote for various reasons. The missing MKs were Ministers Sa’ar, Eitan, Livnat and Peled (Likud), Ben-Eliezer and Braverman (Labor), Deputy Ministers Gamliel (Likud) and Noked (Labor), MKs Yacimovich, Peretz, Cabel (Labor) and MK Orlev (J.H.). Most of the six missing Labor MKs indicated before the vote that they were missing the vote in protest of Netanayhu giving in to the ultra-orthodox.

The opposition was missing 12 MKs from the budget vote for various reasons. The missing MKs were Kadima MKs Mofaz, Edery, Boim, Shai and Ezra, N.U. MKs Ben Ari and Katz, Hadash MKs Barakeh and Khenin, R.T. MKs Tibi and Sarsur and Balad MK Naffaa.