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Knesset Winter Session 2011/2012 Day 37: New Advertising and Marketing Limitations on Alcoholic Beverages

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — 2 Comments
February 11, 2012

The Knesset’s Monday session lasted about four and a half hours. Four bills were discussed. One bill became law after passing its third reading, and three bills were advanced after passing their first readings. The new law heavily regulates the advertising and marketing of alcohol. The bills advanced deal with prohibiting entrance fees for Israeli Memorial Day activities, youth rights on sports teams, and free calls to help centers for sexual abuse victims. The government survived the no-confidence motions as usual.

Non-Bills Summary

* Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘Extension of Tal Law – Netanyahu government encourages ultra orthodox army evasion and inequality of the military burden’ was defeated 32-47 with 41 MKs not present.

* Labor and Meretz’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘Netanyahu government’s failure in the political, social and economic sector’ was defeated 40-47 with 33 MKs not present.

* Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘Justice Minister Neeman’s request to give amnesty to policeman Shahar Mizrahi and his policy of not punishing policemen who kill Arab civilians’ was defeated 10-52-1 with 57 MKs not present.

* Interior Minister Yishai (Shas) presented the government’s request to extend a temporary provision on the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Bill that prohibits citizenship of Palestinian Arabs who marry Israeli citizens. 17 MKs gave speeches and clarified their position on the request. At the end of the discussion the extension was approved 37-14.

* Finance Committee Chairman Shama (Likud) asked the Knesset to approve his committee’s request to split a bill the committee is discussing into two. The Knesset approved the request 17-0.

* MK Aflalo (Kadima) gave his goodbye address after submitting his letter of resignation to Speaker Rivlin earlier in the day. He thanked the MKs and Knesset workers and said he would remember them after he takes his new position in the KKL. He chose not to congratulate Avraham Duan, who was set to replace him 48 hours later.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Limitation on Advertising and Marketing of Alcoholic Beverages Bill

 

Finance Committee Chairman Shama (Likud) said that alcohol is linked to serious violence and, in many cases, death. He noted the World Health Organization lists alcohol as the third leading cause of death after high blood pressure and cigarettes. He warned that alcoholism has become an epidemic among Israeli youth. He explained the purpose of the new amendment is to limit the advertising and marketing of alcoholic beverages in Israel by prohibiting advertising on all billboards, youth newspapers and magazines, youth television and radio shows. He added regular newspapers and magazines will be restricted to three alcohol advertisements, and alcohol companies may not market package deals that take up more than five percent of the advertisement. He stated alcohol advertisements will be limited to information of the product and will carry a warning on television, radio and print (as well as the bottle itself) about the danger of drinking alcohol. He noted that giving away alcohol as a prize in a raffle or sweepstakes on television or radio will be prohibited, but it will be permitted in bars and at alcohol festivals. He said certain lobby groups tried to exempt wine and beer from the bill, but they were not successful. He said that most of the new provisions will start in three months, but a few will take effect in two years. He concluded that it is very important to heavily regulate the alcohol industry and thanked the sponsor of the bill for adding the latest round.

The bill passed its second reading 24-0.

The bill passed its third reading 23-0.

MK Danon (Likud) thanked the MKs and Knesset for approving his bill. He announced that it was the marketing to youth that convinced him to write the bill, and when he found out that Israel is third in the world in 11-year-old alcohol consumption he chose to expand the bill.

Amendment to the Israeli Memorial Day Bill

MK Matalon (Y.B.) explained his amendment would prohibit charging entrance to Israeli Memorial Day activities. He said the decision of non-profits to charge for entrance to last year’s activities led to a lower number of participants and a big moral disgrace to families who lost loved ones. He urged the Knesset to help him advance and pass his bill before the next Israeli Memorial Day.

MK Katzeleh (N.U.) expressed his support for the bill. He stated certain people are against this bill because it would prevent high-profile singers from performing at the events and pocketing a nice salary. He suggested that if these high-profile singers get greedy, there are patriotic mid- and low-profile singers who can replace them.

MK Yachimovich (Labor) thanked the government for abandoning capitalism and free markets and adopting her socialist policies. She expressed hope this would be the first of many socialist bills that she co-sponsored that will become law under this capitalist government. She agreed with Katzeleh, stressing the artists should agree to perform for free and not take money on such an important day.

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

Amendment to the Sports Bill

MK Tirosh (Kadima) explained the amendment would inform minors of their rights and responsibilities when they join a youth sports team and force teams to trade them if they demand it within two months of the request. She stated soccer players have shelf lives of until the age of 30 and their rights before the age of 18 should be protected since that is a large portion of their career. She concluded by announcing the bill also deals with overseas health insurance for minors.

MK Eichler (U.T.J.) slammed the press for inciting against the ultra-orthodox and the secular MKs who are trying to ride that wave. He said it is unacceptable that other minority groups like Ethiopians, Druze and Arabs are protected, while the ultra-orthodox are left out to dry.

The bill passed its first reading 9-0 and was sent to the Sport Committee.

Amendment to the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Bill

MK Levi-Abekasis (Y.B.) explained her amendment would require that all telephone calls to emergency centers for victims of sexual assault be made free. She said these centers do important work and save lives, and the price of the telephone call should be picked up by the government. She added that her bill would prohibit telephone companies from releasing information on who is calling the centers and who the centers are calling.

The bill passed its first reading 10-0 and was sent to the Women’s Rights Committee.

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This was the Knesset Jeremy English translation protocol of the Knesset’s January 23, 2012, session.

Official protocol in Hebrew: http://www.knesset.gov.il/plenum/data/00515112.doc

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Knesset Winter Session 2011/2012 Day 36: Internet Packages and Splitting Apartments

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — 4 Comments
February 9, 2012

The Knesset’s Wednesday session lasted about six hours. Twelve bills were discussed. Two bills were advanced after passing their preliminary readings, seven were defeated, one was turned into a motion and two were not voted on in order to avoid defeat. Seven motions were discussed. The bills advanced allow the splitting of an apartment into two in order to promote flooding the market with more apartments and allow customers who don’t use their technological device while overseas to roll their internet minutes or data to the month after they get back.

Non-Bills Summary

* Energy and Water Minister Landau (Y.B.), Housing and Construction Minister Atias (Shas), Interior Minister Yishai (Shas) and Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) answered urgent queries to start the session.

* Seven motions were discussed and sent to various Knesset committees for further discussion by the votes 8-0, 7-0, 6-0, 5-0, 5-0, 15-0 and 3-0.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Bathing Places Bill

 

MK Zeev (Shas) explained his amendment would require the government to place lifeguards at ponds and streams of national parks and nature reserves. He stated many children and adults have been injured and some have died because there are no lifeguards in nature reserves and national parks. He said it is unacceptable that the country charges 25 shekels a person for entrance and provides entrance to ponds and streams that don’t have lifeguards. He asked where the money is going. He said posting a sign is not sufficient. He asked why the government would oppose the bill since the funding is directly connected to the entrance fees. He agreed to postpone the vote on the bill to a later time when he receives government support.

Amendment to the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Bill

MK Miller (Y.B.) explained his amendment would allow the accumulation of units of web browsing services when the customer is outside of Israel. He said this was the customer is allowed to use the units that were part of the plan when they return to Israel.

Communications Minister Kahlon (Likud) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 20-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Temporary Provision Amendment to the Planning and Building Bill

MK Eichler (U.T.J.) explained his amendment would allow the splitting of apartments of over 100 square meters into two apartments as long as each apartment has at least 35 square meters. He said the temporary provision would last five years until the government builds enough houses to meet the demand. He expressed hope this bill would help flood the market with many apartments.

Interior Minister Yishai expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 23-0 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Amendment to the Preventing Employment of Sex Offenders in Certain Institutions Bill

MK Naffaa (Balad) explained his amendment would prohibit the employment of a minor who is a sex offender in all educational institutions. He said there are 16 and 17 year olds who work at formal and informal educational institutions and his bill will make sure those hired aren’t sex offenders. He agreed to postpone the vote on the bill until he received government support.

Protecting Public Agencies’ Working Contracts’ Rights Bill/Motion

MK Khenin (Hadash) explained his original bill would prohibit hiring contracted workers through big consulting companies who pocket a big profit. He noted that in the public sector 50% of workers are contractors and they don’t receive the same rights as the other 50% who are employees. He listed the many rights that contracted workers would receive according to his bill that would result in the same exact rights as an employee.

Industry and Trade Minister Simhon (Independence) expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that the contracted workers’ rights were recently updated. He said some time must pass to see if there is a need to increase contracted workers’ rights, and perhaps the latest round of rights is the correct balance. He offered Khenin to turn the bill into a motion and if the committee decides to support the initiative he will support the bill at a later date.

MK Khenin warned that many contracted workers were not included in the latest round of benefits and his bill would apply to all contracted workers. He agreed to turn the bill into a motion.

The motion passed 49-0 and was sent to the Labor Committee.

Prohibiting Discrimination in Housing Bill

MK Gilon (Meretz) explained his original bill would prohibit the discrimination of all minority groups in real estate, whether it be for selling or renting. He said the fine would be NIS 150,000. He slammed the Mevaseret police for prohibiting an Ethiopian march protesting the discrimination of Ethiopians in Kiryat Melachi. He said this is the right time to pass this bill and send a message to Kiryat Melachi racists.

Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.) expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that the bill is too extreme and calls for extreme punishment. He said the government is against racism, but this bill goes too far.

MK Gilon said if the government really supported the principle of the bill but disagreed with some of the details it could be passed in its preliminary reading and changed in committee before its first reading. He charged the government doesn’t care about this bill and has a racist policy. He called for a role call vote.

The bill was defeated 22-43.

Reporting Requirement for Financial Institutions’ Unclaimed Funds Bills

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained his original bill would require the banks to disclose on the internet the bank accounts of the NIS 15-20 billion that have been frozen for ten years or more in order to allow citizens to claim their inheritance. He slammed the banks for opposing this bill and trying to pocket the money that is not rightfully theirs. He reported his bill is law in many democratic countries. He blasted the government for opposing his bill in 2011 and asked them to sober up in 2012. He promised that if the government passes the bill in its preliminary reading, he won’t pursue it in the first reading unless he convinces the government it is a good idea.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) said the bill is unnecessary since the principle is already found in Israeli law under the power of the finance minister and the finance minister is going to implement the internet database soon.

MK Sheetrit said he doesn’t believe the website will be created without his bill passing. He said it is the public’s right to have the money they deserve. He said he will wait for six months in committee after the preliminary reading to see if the finance minister actually implements the internet database. He warned the government not to choose the big banks over the simple citizens.

The bill was defeated 17-40.

Amendment to the Chief Rabbinate Bill

MK Molla (Kadima) explained his amendment would require the inclusion of Keisim in the Chief Rabbinate’s electoral assembly. He asked the Knesset to stand with the Ethiopians today and support this bill over discrimination by the ultra orthodox. He said there are 60-70 Keisim who are the Rabbis of the Ethiopian community in Israel and they should be part of the spiritual leadership of the Israeli Rabbinate. He said despite the fact that former Chief Rabbi Goren said Ethiopians aren’t Jewish, they were still brought to Israel thanks to Chief Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, and they should not be excluded from religious Judaism. He said this discrimination leads to Ethiopian riots in Kiryat Melachi.

Religious Affairs Minister Margi (Shas) expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that it would set a dangerous precedent to choose electoral assemblies by their country of origin. He said there is no rule preventing Keisim or Ethiopians from serving in the assembly, but they are not big enough at this time to have the votes needed to enter the assembly. He said the government supports Ethiopians but can’t support this bill.

MK Molla said giving 70 Keisim a salary without authority was stupid on the government’s part and they should be given authority within the assembly.

The bill was defeated 21-33.

Amendment to the Social Security Bill
MK Molla explained his amendment would increase the old age pensions, which would help a key demographic of poor Israelis. He stated the old built this country and deserve more than they are given, even if it will cost billions to the national budget. He said this bill is very logical.

Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon (Likud) said the principle is worthy and just, but the budget cannot withstand such an increase. He said for a long time the old age pension was 16% and today it stands at 17.7%, but the country can’t jump to the 20% required in the bill. He said he gave NIS 11 million towards old peoples heating bills and he really wants to support this bill, but he can’t.

MK Molla said he sympathizes with Kahlon because the priority of this government is not for the elderly, rather for the big businesses. He promised to raise this bill for discussion every six months.

The bill was defeated 25-35.

Two Amendments to the Retirement Age Bill

MK Solodkin (Kadima) explained her amendment would lower the retirement age for women to 60 for three large groups that would include most of the women in the workforce.

MK Yachimovich (Labor) explained her similar amendment would lower the retirement age of all women to the age of 60. She went on to give a speech for the next ten minutes that resembled a campaign speech, with many fancy words, little substance and a lot of story telling.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen expressed government opposition to the bills on the grounds that as humans live longer, the retirement age should be raised and not lowered. He said any actuary knows that it is a very dangerous financial move to accept such a bill and would cost the country billions of shekels. He said NIS 600 million is provided to a fund that assists women who retire in their 50s because of physical jobs that took a toll on their health.

The first bill was defeated 19-32.

The second bill was defeated 15-31.

Amendment to the Security Service Bill

MK Katzeleh (N.U.) explained his amendment would maintain freedom of religion in the army by allowing soldiers to follow any religious tradition or practice that is authorized by the army Chaplains. He said it is impossible to try to draft the ultra orthodox Jews into the army if they are asked to break Jewish law. He said the generals should allow the army rabbis the freedom to rule in Jewish matters and should respect the rabbis’ decisions and positions. He added that a soldier who refuses to hear a woman sing should be allowed to politely walk away from the performance without being disciplined. He warned if the army doesn’t go towards the religious, it can’t expect to draft the religious. He noted that within the next decade the religious Jews will make up a majority of Jewish births. He stated the government needs to look at how they can make life easier for them in the army, and not harder. He slammed the latest attempts to harm religion in the army and expressed hope it wouldn’t scare away religious soldiers. He said a free democratic country should protect freedom of religion. He said the generals should enter into a dialogue with the ultra orthodox rabbis and ask what they can do to encourage more religious Jews in the army. He concluded that Israel’s religious soldiers are asking for freedom.

Industry and Trade Minister Simhon expressed government opposition on the grounds that freedom of religion has limits, just like every other freedom. He said this bill will impair army discipline and allow soldiers to think for themselves more than necessary. He said army service is not a request but a duty, and soldiers will be forced to listen to female singers if that is what the army wants.

MK Katzeleh said orders must be followed, but common sense must be used as well. He said the current policy is keeping the ultra orthodox from the army and that is very sad.

The bill was defeated 2-19.

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This was the Knesset Jeremy English translation protocol of the Knesset’s January 18, 2012, session.

Official protocol in Hebrew: http://www.knesset.gov.il/plenum/data/00455012.doc

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Knesset Winter Session 2011/2012 Day 35: Blind People, Public Housing, Social Security and Nazi Persecution

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — Leave a comment
February 8, 2012

The Knesset’s Tuesday session lasted about four and a half hours. Four bills were discussed. Two bills became law after passing their third readings, and two were advanced after passing their first readings. Two motions were discussed. The new laws prohibit repo companies from taking away blind people’s seeing eye dog welfare payments and settle disputes of public housing in cases of divorce. The bills advanced change semantics in the Nazi Persecution Bill and allow veterans to serve in reserve duty and not have that time count against them for their preferred jobs.

Non-Bills Summary

* 22 MKs spoke during the One Minute Speech segment that opened the day.

* House Committee Chairman Levin (Likud) announced which disputed bills would be discussed in which committees.

* Nine MKs asked queries during a question hour with Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.)

* MK Michaeli (Shas) announced the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee’s request to split a bill into two. It was approved 13-0.

* A motion on the cases of discrimination and racism against Ethiopian immigrants in Kiryat Malachi was discussed by 18 MKs.

* A motion on the planned evictions of homeless people from their tent cities was discussed by 7 MKs.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Prohibition of Taking Away a Blind Person’s Money for a Seeing Eye Dog Bill

Justice, Law and Constitution Committee Chairman Rotem (Y.B.) explained the amendment would prohibit repo men from taking away a blind person’s welfare payment of NIS 935 for maintaining their seeing eye dog. He said there are 7,000 blind people who receive the payment and all of them will be protected under the bill.

The bill passed its second reading 14-0.

The bill passed its third reading 16-0.

MK Khenin (Hadash) thanked the Knesset and the MKs for approving his bill. He stated that a blind person deserves to receive their welfare payment even if they don’t make any of their payments.

Amendment to the Public Housing Tenant’s Rights Bill

MK Ben Simon (Labor) explained that under the amendment if a couple who lives in public housing get divorced or separated, the housing assistance would be given to the parent with the most children and would not be split into two. He added the bill prohibits giving away the public housing in a custody or divorce battle.

The bill passed its second reading 13-0.

The bill passed its third reading 12-0.

MK Avraham Balila (Kadima) thanked the Knesset and MKs for supporting and approving her very important bill. She said this is another feminist bill coming out of the Women’s Right’s Committee and thanked the female MKs for fighting for women’s rights.

Amendment to the Social Security Bill

MK Bibi (Kadima) explained the amendment would extend the period of eligibility for a special grant for veteran soldiers who perform preferred work so that it doesn’t count against them when they serve in the reserves. He said that preferred work is nine months over the first two years of finishing service, but some people spend some of that time in the reserves, and his bill will make sure that time is not counted against their two years.

The bill passed its first reading 5-0 and was sent to the Welfare Committee.

Amendment to the Victims of Nazi Persecution Bill

MK Bielski (Kadima) explained his amendment is a matter of semantics and would replace terms used in the bill so that it would give victims of Nazi persecution more respect. He said his grandson, Lavi, will read in the official protocol in many years that only a few MKs stayed until the end of the evening to support his grandfather’s bill that saved the honor of victims of Nazi persecution. He whined for ten minutes asking why the other MKs didn’t stay for his bill.

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

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This was the Knesset Jeremy English translation protocol of the Knesset’s January 17, 2012, session.

Official protocol in Hebrew: http://www.knesset.gov.il/plenum/data/00416212.doc

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Knesset Winter Session 2011/2012 Day 34: IDF Soldiers’ Big Raise, Father’s Rights, and Discrimination

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — 2 Comments

The Knesset’s Monday session lasted about five hours. Twelve bills were discussed. Seven bills became law after passing their third readings, and five were advanced after passing their first readings. The session had a little bit of everything from single parents to social security to soldiers to Druze, among other interesting topics.

Non-Bills Summary

* Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘Incompetence of the Netanyahu government against instances of radicalization, violence and racism in Israeli society’ was defeated 36-47 with 37 MKs not present.

* Labor and Meretz’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘A 20% increase in starting construction in the settlements’ was defeated 35-46-1 with 38 MKs not present.

* Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘Low employment figures in the Arab population, compared to the general trend’ was defeated 27-50 with 43 MKs not present.

 

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Additional Mailing Address for Minors Bill

Children’s Rights Committee Chairman Orlev (J.H.) explained the amendment would enable a parent who does not live with their child to receive all copies of the child’s official mail, change of address and educational, medical and financial information. He reported that the current law does not call for copies of documents, mail or information about a child for the parent who does not have full custody. He stated the court can decide to deny these privileges on a case by case basis. He said the point of the bill is to prevent mothers who decide to cut fathers out of their children’s lives for no explicable reason other than revenge. He stressed that parenting does not end when a couple gets divorced.

MK Sheetrit thanked Chairman Orlev for supporting his bill through two years of committee meetings. He said as a former Justice, Education and Interior Minister, he doesn’t understand why the government is opposing his two objections to his own bill. He said that a small minority of fathers are problematic and it is not fair to the majority of single fathers. He explained his objections would reduce the bureaucracy involved in this bill and make it easier. He stressed that fathers care about their biological children and they deserve to know when their children switch schools, health care providers, addresses and so on.

Chairman Orlev said the bill creates a dilemma that the father needs to go to a government office once to apply for his rights under this bill and Sheetrit’s objections would make them automatic. He called on the MKs to oppose the objections.

The paragraphs passed their second readings 32-0, 32-0 and 33-0.

The objections were defeated 10-21-1 and 12-21.

The bill passed its third reading 31-0.

MK Sheetrit thanked the Knesset for approving his bill despite rejecting his two just objections.

Amendment to the Economic Efficiency Implementation of the Economic Program for 2009 and 2010 Bill

Funds Committee Chairman Gafni (U.T.J.) explained the amendment would exempt businesses and companies that have a turnover of under NIS 2.5 million from certain financial reports. Non-profit organizations would receive the same exemptions for under NIS 20 million. He said this bill is a compromise that finds a balance between the needs of small businesses and the government collecting exact taxes. He thanked his assistants and fellow committee members.

The bill passed its second reading 16-0.

The bill passed its third reading 16-0.

Amendment to the Social Security Bill

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman Katz (Likud) explained the amendment would distribute funds into programs that help at-risk children. He said the programs already exist under a temporary provision and this extension would be for three additional years. He said that the bill should become a permanent bill by that time.

The bill passed its second reading 12-0.

The bill passed its third reading 11-0.

Temporary Provision Amendment to the Defense Service Bill

Coalition Chairman Elkin (Likud) explained the temporary provision that forces male soldiers to serve 36 months instead of 30 months is being extended for a year, just like it has been extended every year before that since 1986.

The bill passed its second reading 13-0.

The bill passed its third reading 13-0.

Amendment to the Social Security Bill

Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon (Likud) explained the amendment would force the social security office to return to a citizen the money he overpaid retroactively. He stated the current law is only up to three years and this will fix that issue.

The bill passed its first reading 16-0 and was sent to the Welfare Committee.

Amendment to the Assisting Minors who are Victims of Sexual or Violent Crimes Bill

Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon explained the amendment would create another eight shelters for victims of sexual and violent crimes who are minors, in addition to the two that are in existence today. He added the shelters would be built and operational by 2015.

MK Levi-Abekasis (Y.B.) said the deadline of building the shelters over three years is unacceptable. She stressed that these kids need help now and not in three years. She said all children who die from these crimes will be on the heads of the Labor and Welfare Minister, who has ducked away from building the shelters since the Supreme Court ordered them in 2008. She said the cost of implementing the bill of eight million shekels is nothing and should not be pushed off for three years.

MK Molla (Kadima) told the coalition they have a lot of chutzpa to vote for this bill with the three year clause and walked off the podium.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) said this is not the legislative home of Israel, but the populist home of Israel. He asked why only issues that make it to the papers can be passed into law and not important issues like this.

MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) called the bill arrogant and asked where the priority in the government lies. He asked where the eight million shekels is for minors who have been raped. He asked how the government isn’t embarrassed of itself. He said it is the government’s fault from now on for every minor who is raped.

MK Khenin (Hadash) said the bill is an embarrassment that surpasses all boundaries that sinks the government into its lowest part. He told the coalition MKs who respect themselves to walk out of the plenum and not vote for the bill.

MK Adatto (Kadima) said she feels contempt towards anyone who votes for this bill. She said as a doctor, she knows that children who are molested who don’t receive immediate treatment will carry it for the rest of their lives.

MK Whbee (Kadima) blamed MK Kahlon for passing a bill that he will never need to implement and charged his ministry will postpone it for another three years in 2015. He said walking out is not the right option, voting against the bill is.

Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon said he feels the pain of the previous seven speakers. He confessed the three years is a problem and he doesn’t agree with it. He stressed that no child is turned away from the two shelters in existence and the MKs are stretching the truth with their speeches. He blamed his predecessors for not building the shelters earlier.

The bill passed its first reading 21-14 and was sent to the House Committee to determine which committee will discuss the bill further.

Amendment to the Sports Bill

Housing and Construction Minister Atias (Shas) explained the amendment would postpone the implementation of certain clauses for six months.

The bill passed its first reading 16-0 and was sent to the Sport Committee.

Amendment to the Elections Bill

MK Michaeli (Shas) explained the amendment would allow national service volunteers to vote in double envelopes in the areas of their service, just like the military does today.

MK Yoel Hasson said this is another promotion for another coalition’s attempt to mess around with national voting results. He slammed Orlev and the Jewish Home for trying to increase their electoral power through corruption.

MK Whbee said he doesn’t understand how the Likud and coalition can agree to pay such a heavy price for Jewish Home’s survival. He said this bill is squeezing all fairness out of the Israeli law book.

MK Orlev said he is guilty for sponsoring this bill and he won’t apologize for it. He said that national servicewomen should be entitled to the same rights as soldiers. He slammed Hasson and Whbee and told them to shut up.

The bill passed its first reading 16-8 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Amendment to the Employment Services Bill

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman Katz explained the amendment would prohibit discrimination at the work place and when hiring employees for a wide variety of reasons including veteran soldiers and women going through fertility treatments. He added the bill will also not allow employers to worsen their work conditions.

The bill passed its second reading 17-0.

The bill passed its third reading 10-0.

MK Shai (Kadima) thanked the Knesset and MKs for supporting and passing his bill.

Amendment to the Pharmacists Ordinance Bill

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman Katz explained the amendment would require all pharmacists- those who learned in Israel or abroad- to pass a government test before receiving a government license to practice in a pharmacy in Israel. He said the bill will take effect on January 1, 2013.

The bill passed its second reading 13-0.

The bill passed its third reading 12-0.

Amendment to the Absorption of Discharged Soldiers Bill

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman Katz explained the amendment would increase the grant soldiers receive on their release from active service. He said for instance, a soldier who served 36 months in a combat unit will receive NIS 20,000 instead of NIS 9,650, a 105% increase, after the gradual increase is completed in 2016. He said the point of the bill is to give some appreciation to soldiers who served their country and give them a little something with which to start their lives.

The bill passed its second reading 13-0.

The bill passed its third reading 13-0.

MK Matalon (Y.B.) thanked the Knesset and MKs for supporting his bill and Chairman Katz for pushing it through as fast as possible. He also thanked Foreign Minister Liberman for helping him receive government support for the bill earlier on in the process.

Amendment to the Expanding Druze Community Representation Bill

MK Amar (Y.B.) explained the amendment would raise to 10% the Druze affirmative action throughout the public sector. He reported there are 130,000 Druze living in Israel, mainly in their 16 villages up north, and their average wage is under NIS 5,000 a month. He said the Druze have an 83% military rate. He pointed out 16% of Sefaram’s population is Druze but none of their 70 municipal workers are Druze.

MK Yoel Hasson praised and supported the bill, calling it important and a true answer to a difficult problem. He stated Israel owes the Druze and this bill is necessary.

MK Levin (Likud) said those who serve the country must receive from the country. He said the previous governments have ignored the Druze, but this government does care about the Druze and has helped them time and again.

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

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This was the Knesset Jeremy English translation protocol of the Knesset’s January 16, 2012, session.

Official protocol in Hebrew:  http://www.knesset.gov.il/plenum/data/00386012.doc

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Meretz MK Gal-On Wins Primaries

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February 7, 2012

MK Zahava Gal-On received 506 votes of the 950 eligable Meretz central committee members and became the third current female leader of a Knesset party, behind Kadima’s Tzippi Livni and Labor’s Shelly Yachimovich. MK Ilan Gilon finished second with 306 votes, and party activist Uri Ophir came in third with 23 votes. 115 central committee members didn’t vote.

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