Category: Knesset


Winter Session Day 2: Rehavam Ze’evi Day

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October 14, 2010

Tuesday’s hour and a half session commemorated Rehavam Ze’evi Day. Virtually the entire session was spent eulogizing Ze’evi, who was assassinated nine years ago. MK Eldad (NU) had the headline of the day with his declaration that Jordan is the Palestinian state. The first bill of the winter session was discussed and passed its third reading.

One Minute Speeches

Most of the 23 MKs spoke about assassinated Minister, MK and leader of the Moledet party, Rehavam Ze’evi.

Special session in memory of assassinated Tourism Minister Ze’evi

Speaker of the House Rivlin (Likud), Prime-Minister Netanyahu (Likud), Opposition Leader Livni (Kadima) and MK Eldad (N.U.) all gave warm speeches eulogizing Ze’evi. They all shared heartfelt fond personal memories and condemned the assassination by Palestinian terrorists in an eastern Jerusalem hotel nine years ago. The plenum was filled with special guests, former ministers, MKs, public figures, soldiers and family members. The most amazing part of the three speeches was that only small parts of the emotional speeches were read from the speakers’ notes. Livni stressed several times that she disagreed with Ze’evi politically. MK Eldad stole the headline of the day when he said there was no need for a Palestinian state, since there already was one and it is called – Jordan.

Shazar Center for the history of the Jewish people Bill

Education, Culture and Sports Committee Chairman Orlev (Jewish Home) explained that the bill would create an investigation and study center in the name of the third president of Israel, Zalman Shazar. He explained that this bill would create many government jobs. Deputy Speaker Walhaba (Kadima) congratulated MK Orlev on passing another bill that would give his connected people jobs. Chairman Orlev went on to thank the dozens of people who helped make the bill possible and assist in getting it passed quickly.

Coalition Chairman Elkin (Likud) thanked former MK Menachem Ben-Sasson for coming up with the idea for the bill and to MK Orlev for navigating the bill in a way which helped it get passed.

The bill passed its second reading 12-0 and its third reading 12-0.

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Knesset Jeremy On The Radio

Filed under: Knesset, Other — 2 Comments
October 12, 2010

Jeremy Man Saltan of Knesset Jeremy was interviewed by Yishai Fleisher on Israel National Radio earlier today. Below is the link and Jeremy’s interview is roughly from 27:45 till 47:10.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Radio/News.aspx/2581

If the link does not work, download the file and play it.

Jeremy Man Saltan, a Knesset insider, gives English-speakers a glimpse
into the first day back to parliament after a long summer break.

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Winter Session Day 1: Government Survives Three No-Confidence Votes Following 80-Day Recess

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — 1 Comment

The Knesset’s festive plenum opening of the winter session was very predictable. It lasted four hours, as Speaker of the House Rivlin, Prime-Minister Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Livni all gave speeches. Rivlin and Netanyahu discussed how much the government accomplished during the 80-day recess while Livni talked about how the government did absolutely nothing. The government easily survived three no confidence votes with safe margins. No bills were discussed.

No Confidence Motions

Kadima’s, titled “The Netanyahu government’s failure politically, economically and socially,” was defeated 33-56, with 4 abstaining and 21 MKs not present.

Balad, Ra’am-Ta’al and Chadash’s, titled “The Settlement policy and failed talks,” was defeated 11-60, with 17 abstaining and 32 MKs not present.

Meretz’s, titled “The Israeli government’s policy regarding the continued freeze” was defeated 32-59, with 29 MKs not present.

The Knesset also voted on the speeches known as “announcements”

The goal of voting on the “announcements” was for the coalition rebuttal by coalition chairman MK Elkin (Likud) to the no-confidence motions to be accepted by the plenum. Equally as important was for the plenum to defeat the announcements/speeches given by four opposition MKs.

MK Elkin’s announcement (Likud) passed 54-38. The other four, mostly short speeches about the no confidence motions, were defeated. MK Pelsner ‘s (Kadima) was defeated 26-57, with 5 abstaining. MK Chanin’s (Chadash) was defeated 11-58, with 19 abstaining. MK Eldad’s (National Union) was crushed 3-65 with 20 abstaining. MK Gilon’s (Meretz) was defeated 34-60.

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Haaretz Dialog Poll: Likud 32, Kadima 31, Liberman 13, Shas 10, Labor 8

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October 10, 2010

This week two polls carried out on the same day by different companies projected very different results. In the Magar Mohot (MM) poll the Likud displayed a seven seat lead over Kadima. The Haaretz Dialog (HD) Poll puts the gap between the two biggest parties at only one seat. Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu would jump to 21 seats in the MM poll, while the HD poll has Liberman’s party losing strength and grabbing just 13 seats. As usual the Haaretz poll gave Meretz more seats than any competing poll with 5, compared to just 2 in the MM poll.

32 (33) [27] Likud
31 (26 )[28] Kadima
13 (21 )[15] Yisrael Beiteinu
08 (09 )[13] Labor
10 (09 )[11] Shas
06 (05) [05] Yahadut Hatorah
06 (05) [07] Jewish Home/NRP combined with result for Nat’l Union but
running separately
05 (02) [03] Meretz
09 (10) [11] Arab parties

If elections held today (expressed in Knesset seats) based on the 69% that named a party. Current Knesset seats in [brackets] (For comparison – Telephone poll of a representative sample of 562 adult Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) carried out by Maagar Mohot Survey Institute (headed by Professor Yitzchak Katz for Israel Radio’s Hakol Diburim (It’s All Talk) program on 5-6 October and broadcast on 7 October in “( )”.)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Are you satisfied with the performance of:
PM Netanyahu: Yes 40% No 47%
DM Barak: Yes 27% No 62%
FM Liberman: Yes 34% No 54%

Who can best manage the negotiations with the Palestinians?

Netanyahu 37% Livni 25% Liberman 9% Barak 8%

Who can best take care of Israel’s security interests?

Netanyahu 32% Livni 16% Liberman 16% Barak 14%

Should Netanyahu accept the US proposal to extend the freeze in exchange for security and diplomatic benefits? Yes 50% No 42%

How have the things that former PM Olmert wrote impacted how you feel about DM Barak?
No change 50% Worsened 23% Improved 6%

Did the Liberman address at the UN strengthen or weaken your support for him?

Strengthened 33% Weakened 45%

Did his remarks strengthen or weaken Israel standing in the world?

Strengthened 19% Weakened 63%

Should Netanyahu fire him in the wake of the address? Yes 33% No 57%

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Haaretz-Dialog survey of 514 Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) 6 October as published in Haaretz on 8 October 2010. Survey error +/- 4.3 percentage points.

_______________________________________________________________

Your thoughts?

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Latest MM Poll: Likud 33, Kadima 26, Liberman 21!

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October 8, 2010

A new Maagar Mohot poll ordered by Israel Radio paints a clear picture of how Israel’s public opinion changed over the Knesset’s 80 day summer recess. According to the poll, the Right would jump to 73 seats, compared to the Left’s 37 seats, while the Arab parties receive 10 seats.  If elections were to be held today only the Likud and Liberman’s Yisrael Beitanu parties would gain seats, while the other parties would either drop seats or would retain their current number.

If elections held today (expressed in Knesset seats) based on the 69% that
named a party.
Current Knesset seats in [brackets].

33 [27] Likud
26 [28] Kadima
21 [15] Yisrael Beiteinu
09 [13] Labor
09 [11] Shas
05 [05] Yahadut Hatorah
03 [03] Jewish Home/NRP
02 [03] Meretz
02 [04] Nat’l Union
10 [11] Arab parties

_____________________________________________________________

Do you support or oppose the continuation of the freeze on Jewish
construction in the area of Judea and Samaria for sixty days today in return
for the receipt of guarantees and incentives from the United States?
Total: For extending 45% Against 42%
Among those planning now to vote Likud: For 44% Against 47%

Who is more appropriate to be prime minister, Netanyahu or Livni?
Netanyahu 48% Livni 23% Don’t know, Neither, Other replies 29%

_____________________________________________________________

Telephone poll of a representative sample of 562 adult Israelis (including
Israeli Arabs) carried out by Maagar Mohot Survey Institute (headed by
Professor Yitzchak Katz for Israel Radio’s Hakol Diburim (It’s All Talk)
program on 5-6 October and broadcast on 7 October. Statistical error +/- 4.5
percentage points.

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