Jeremy's Knesset Insider

Monday’s session lasted about six hours. Six bills were discussed. Five bills were advanced after passing their first readings, and one bill became law after passing its third reading. Netanyahu presented a bill for the first time since he was reelected Prime Minister in 2009. It was also the first time a Prime Minister had presented a bill since former Prime Minister Sharon presented the Disengagement Bill in 2005. The Procedures to Accelerate Planning and Construction of a Residential Building Bill was discussed by opposition and coalition members. Another highlight of the day was the transfer of certain Mossad responsibilities from Defense Minister Barak to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Non-Bills Summary

• Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The Netanyahu government negatively affects working women and intends to raise the retirement age for women to 67’ was defeated 37-56 with 27 MKs not attending.
• Labor’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The government’s economic failure is causing prices to rise in all sectors of the economy’ was defeated 36-58 with 26 MKs not attending.
• Meretz’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The inability of the government to act against the rebellion and growing threats to the rule of law’ was defeated 34-61 with 25 MKs not attending.
• Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘The food and public transportation prices and regressive taxes in Israel are the highest in the world’ was defeated 31-60 with 29 MKs not attending.
• Intelligence Minister Meridor announced the transfer of certain authorities and responsibilities from Defense Minister Barak to Prime Minister Netanyahu. MKs Ariel (N.U.), Khenin (Hadash) and Bielski (Kadima) gave speeches opposing the move on the grounds that Meridor refused to report which responsibilities are being transferred. Speaker Rivlin agreed to MK Ariel’s request to learn more on what he is voting on and brought up Meridor, who explained the issue is classified because it involves the Israeli Mossad. The measure was approved by a 24-4 vote.

Bills Summary

Temporary Provision to the Procedures to Accelerate Planning and Construction of a Residential Building Bill

Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that just about every MK has at some point complained to him about the housing crisis. He was heckled by the opposition on the grounds that the Prime Minister should not be presenting a bill to the Knesset. Speaker Rivlin reminded the MKs that former Prime Minister Shamir presented the original bill to the Knesset in 1990. Netanyahu explained the housing crisis is a result of the growing population. He reported that there is a gap every year of 10,000 building units that need to be built and are not, noting the government built 35,000 units this year compared to the 45,000 needed. He said the current shortage is between 60,000 and 100,000 building units. He reported the five measures his government has already implemented to tackle the problem, stating he has improved transportation from the Galil and the Negev to the center of the country by building new railroad lines and multi-lane freeways, granted young couples NIS 100,000 grants to build homes in 28 designated cities throughout Israel, moved multiple army bases to the Negev, overturned the prohibition on building new housing projects in the center of the country and reduced taxes for people selling apartments. MK Ben Ari (N.U.) was thrown out for heckling. Netanyahu defended his five actions and the money he spent on trying to solve the problem. He slammed the Israeli bureaucracy in general and the Israel Land Authority in particular as the main reasons Israel has a housing shortage. He praised the reform he started in the Israel Land Authority and said that many fundamental changes are coming, among them reducing the hostility between homeowners and the authority, productively marketing new homes, ensuring managerial flexibility and hiring dozens of experts to help expedite the marketing of homes. He said the two hurdles are ensuring a pension for the authority workers and shortening the marketing speed from 5-8 years per building unit to about a year. He explained his temporary provision will merge the authority committees into a one stop shop and enforce timetables and deadlines. He hoped these changes, along with what his government has already accomplished, will close the gap of the housing shortage and bring results quickly. He said the easiest way to lower demand for houses is to increase the supply. He said he hoped the opposition, who heckled his whole speech, will approve this important and much needed bill.

Opposition Leader Livni slammed Netanyahu for turning the speech into a press conference. She called Netanyahu a marketing expert and not a Prime Minister. She blasted the indirect taxes, shrinking middle class and cottage cheese prices. She accused Netanyahu of being all talk and no walk. She criticized Netanyahu and the ministers who left the room saying they are too afraid to hear another opinion. She said there are 160,000 empty apartments in the Galil and Negev, and Netanyahu’s solution is to build in the center of the country. She said that transportation reform for the Negev and Galil is a stop gap measure because the government should really create jobs in those areas. She noted there are 50,000 people on the list for public housing, and Netanyahu doesn’t even touch the issue with this bill. She said the real gap is between what Netanyahu says and what Netanyahu does.

MK Swaid (Hadash) slammed Netanyahu for explaining the problem and what the government has supposedly done to solve the problem instead of solving the problem. He warned lowering the price of apartments is dangerous because it will impact the taxes the government collects. He said an average family cannot afford an apartment unless they work for 15 years with no expenses. He stated that adding thousands of new apartments now will not solve the current situation but, rather, will help the future. He slammed the bill for discriminating against the Arab communities because it doesn’t call for legalizing the illegal homes in Arab villages.

MK Khenin (Hadash) slammed Netanyahu for presenting the bill and not staying to hear what the MKs have to say about it. He said the housing market is failing and a reform is needed but this bill falls short. He asked why the bill isn’t encouraging people to rent out their empty apartments. He slammed the government for not placing pressure on the builders who are not marketing 160,000 housing units that are sitting empty. He noted the bill covers houses, but not synagogues, schools, health clinics or bus stations, so the houses will not have services. He said the land authority is undermanned and that is why there are problems, claiming it has nothing to do with bureaucracy. He slammed the bill for not being environmentally friendly.

MK Regev (Likud) praised the bill and expressed her support. She encouraged supervision over the implementation of the NIS 100,000 grant. She slammed the selective housing prices of NIS 400,000 in Bet Shemesh compared to NIS 1.5 million for the same sized apartment in Rosh Ha’ayin. She called for a cap of NIS 600,000-700,000 for a first apartment.

MK Ariel (N.U.) called the bill vandalism. He slammed Netanyahu for freezing construction in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the Arab villages. He said 10,000 units are sitting ready for marketing and Netanyahu refuses to sign off on it. He noted that after six years two thirds of the disengagement refugees are still homeless. He stressed that releasing houses for marketing is the solution, not another bill.

MK Eichler (U.T.J.) recalled that when Israel was poor in the 1950s the government still found a house for every person. He slammed the government for not doing the same. He noted 8,000 apartments are being held up in Rosh Ha’ayin because of a fight over who will take care of the sewage. He said Bet Shemesh doesn’t receive government subsidies and it is just cheap because Haredim live there.

MK Plesner (Kadima) slammed the government for creating and not solving the housing crisis and said Netanyahu instead chose to keep the lies coming. He called on removing the marketing blocks on the 160,000 apartments ready for new families. He called the bill pointless since the solution is to release the apartments, which will flood the market with new apartments. He said creating another neighborhood like Hemed in Meveseret Tzion, which has only houses and no other services, is not a helpful solution.

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) said the bill is a bad plan and won’t be implemented since the Israel Land Authority chairman is against the reform and acts against the government. He warned this bill will help the country of Tel Aviv and hurt the rest of Israel. He called on giving incentives to the builders to sell apartments fast, restricting the purchase of more than one apartment per year and forcing people who bought land to build on it or forfeit the land back to the government or get taxed heavily.

MK Katzeleh (N.U.) said there are two big problems with the housing crisis. One is the national deficit, and the other is the country not agreeing to increase the debt to solve the problem. He recalled when he helped Sharon build 120,000 apartments in two years, from 1990 to 1992. His solution for lowering prices is allowing the public to buy land directly from the country without middlemen and removing the building restrictions in Jerusalem. He said his solution is the only solution and asked Deputy Speaker Akunis (Likud) to pass the message along to Netanyahu.

MK Horowitz (Meretz) said for the first time he has to agree with Katzeleh because he is 100% right. He said it is dangerous to bypass the planning committees because the result is failed neighborhoods. He called on giving the land authority more manpower and resources. He said this bill isn’t a supertanker but, rather, a superbluff.

MK Levi-Abekasis (Y.B.) supported and praised the bill. She said it is not a quick fix but, rather, a long-term partial solution. She said it would be unwise to oppose the bill because it doesn’t go far enough, stressing we should support even partial solutions. She criticized that social housing is not part of the bill.

MK Zuaretz (Kadima) said the solution is not legislation but marketing authorized housing projects. She asked how having more committees will reduce bureaucracy. She said this bill helps private interests dictate to mayors how their cities will be built up.

MK Molla (Kadima) accused Netanyahu of spinning every problem instead of solving them. He asked Netanyahu why, if the shortage is 100,000 and there are 160,000 in the reserves, the solution isn’t to release those reserves. He called on the government to purchase thousands of apartments and sell those apartments themselves.

MK Bibi (Kadima) agreed that bureaucracy is the problem but said more bureaucracy is not the solution. He said today politicians go to the press and say they are going to do something, and afterwards they decide if they are actually going to follow through. He warned that bypassing mayors when building up areas is dangerous.

MK Cabel (Labor) slammed Netanyahu for blaming the previous administration for the housing shortage after over two years in office. He reminded Netanyahu that Netanyahu assured the MKs that the previous reform in the land authority would result in more housing and said apparently Netanyahu was wrong about that and he is wrong about this too.

MK Hotovely (Likud) revealed that even as an MK she doesn’t have enough money to buy a house and wondered how the general public can afford to do so. She slammed the government for not doing enough to prevent the Arabs, Bedouins and Druze from land grabbing. She reported that Netanyahu will agree to build 5,000 new units in Jerusalem, but not more than that. She called on Netanyahu to raise that number and to increase the number of housing units in Judea and Samaria.

MK Zeev (Shas) called on the government to build up a Jewish Jerusalem and prevent the illegal building of Arabs in eastern Jerusalem. He slammed the illegal building of Arabs throughout the country and called on Israel to do something about it. He warned that the illegal construction is undermining plans for new roads and other infrastructure. He slammed the army for buying land from Bedouins and then letting them return to live on that land days later.

MK Amnon Cohen (Shas) thanked Netanyahu for the bill and expressed his support for it. He said he is looking forward to discussing it in the committee and hopes the bill will eventually lower the prices of apartments to NIS 600,000-700,000.

Finance Minister Steinitz (Likud) blasted the opposition for attacking the Prime Minister instead of letting him present the bill. He explained that in the years 2000 through 2009 the average annual construction of housing units was reduced gradually from 37,000 to 30,000 while the population grew, causing the current shortage of between 60,000-100,000 units. He also blamed the interest rates.  He said this year Israel is building 50,000 new units and, together with the reform of the land authority, this will cause housing prices to go down.

The bill passed its first reading 51-20 and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee will discuss the bill.

Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Bill

Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman Rotem (Y.B.) explained the amendment will expand the enforcement powers of the police, including body searches, identification of criminals and missing people, international police cooperation, the expansion of the criminal database to include more information and the creation of a new DNA database that will be used to identify dead bodies easily.

MK Gal-On (Meretz) explained the bill creates an issue between protecting the public and protecting criminals’ rights. She said she is pleased with the balance that was found in the committee and will support the bill. She said she is worried that the Israeli police will transfer information to the police of other countries who will use that information against Israelis.

MK Khenin slammed the bill for violating citizens’ basic rights by transferring information to foreign police. He said he will object to subsequent bills that have a Big Brother flavor. He said he will not vote on the bill at the request of Speaker Rivlin.

The bill passed its second reading 14-0.

The bill passed its third reading 14-0.

Temporary Provision to an amendment to the Defense Service Bill

Agriculture Minister Noked (Independence) explained the temporary provision will extend the amendment allowing army draftees to serve in the police service or border police instead of serving in the army for another three years until June 30, 2015.

MK Ariel (N.U.) slammed the government for asking our children to serve their mandatory service in the police or border police instead of the military. He blasted the government for forcing people to be policemen if they don’t wish to. He asked Noked to explain to him the logic behind the bill, but Noked refused.

The bill passed its first reading 11-1 and was sent to the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.

Temporary Provision to an amendment to the Electronic Surveillance to Criminals out on Bail and Criminals on Probation Bill

Minister Noked explained the temporary provision will extend the amendment that allows electronic surveillance of criminals out on bail or on probation for another year.

MK Ariel said this bill is as bad as the last bill but he won’t elaborate at the request of MK Miller (Y.B.)

The bill passed its first reading 10-1 and was sent to the Science and Technology Committee.

Amendment to the Patent Bill

Minister Noked explained the amendment would require the publication of patents within 18 months of the application being sent to the patent authority. She said this bill was requested by the United States government so that Israel would abide by current international patent guidelines.

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

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

MK Matalon (Y.B.) explained his amendment would toughen the punishment for abandonment during a traffic accident. He reported that many hit and run criminals receive cushy plea bargains and get out of jail after a few months and this bill will increase the punishment considerably. He hoped this bill will make a person think twice before abandoning a person on the road.

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

Last Wednesday’s session lasted about seven and a half hours. Nine bills were discussed. Two bills were advanced after passing their preliminary readings, three were turned into motions to avoid defeat, one was pulled to avoid defeat and three were defeated. The bills advanced extend tax benefits for Sderot and Western Negev residents and businesses and allow local authorities to allocate money to a special fund for educational structures.

Non-Bills Summary

• Seven urgent queries were answered by Justice Minister Neeman, Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas), Home Front Defense Minister Vilnai (Independence), Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.), Transportation Minister Katz (Likud) and Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.).
• Speaker Rivlin greeted the conference attendees of Jewish parliamentarians from around the world with a warm speech.
• Eight motions were discussed on various topics and were sent for further discussion in committee by the votes 9-0, 6-0, 7-0, 9-0, 5-0, 4-2, 5-0 and 4-0.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Planning and Building Bill

MK Levin (Likud) explained his amendment would allocate a fund for planning and building education institutions in local authorities. He said this bill is the idea of the Mayor of Kiryat Uno. Speaker Rivlin was surprised that the finance ministry agreed to designate funds for a certain purpose. Levin thanked Rivlin and said he was sure it will be an uphill battle to pass the bill into law.

Interior Minister Yishai (Shas) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 21-0 and was sent to the Education Committee. Speaker Rivlin said the bill should have gone to the Interior Committee but said the MKs can choose which committee  they want even if it is against protocol.

Amendment to the Temporary Provisions on the Assistance to Sderot and Western Negev Bill

MK Hermesh (Kadima) explained his amendment would prevent the cancellation of tax benefits for people who live in Sderot and the Western Negev. The amendment would extend the benefits through 2011 but would leave to the Finance Minister the decision to extend the provision from 2012 and beyond. He reported that Sderot is blooming and has survived the rocket fire from Gaza. Hermesh told a joke about Moroccans who can’t pronounce Sderot correctly because they mix up the pronunciation of the letters shin and sin.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) called on Hermesh to wipe the joke off the official protocol, stressing that, as a Moroccan, he is deeply offended by the joke. Hermesh agreed. Afterwards Cohen expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 37-0 and was sent to the Funds Committee.

Armenian Genocide Day Bill/Motion

MK Eldad (N.U.) talked about how in his childhood he visited the Aaronson House, a symbol of the Jewish struggle against the British Mandate. He stated that there he learned about the Armenian genocide and subsequently read many books on the subject. He said that until now most of the world denies the fact that Armenians were massacred. He noted only 22 countries recognize Armenian Genocide Day and explained his bill would make Israel the 23^rd. He noted that Hitler carried out the holocaust because he knew the world would ignore the killing of the Jews as they did the killing of the Armenians. He noted Turkey at first confessed to killing 300,000 then, in 1919, 800,000, while Turkey’s ally Germany estimated the number at 1.5 million. He noted America, Canada and France are among the 22 countries that have recognized the genocide and called on Israel to join the leading democratic countries in doing so. He blasted Turkey for attacking Israel in every international arena and for sending the flotilla. He connected the Turkish government to the IHH, a terrorist organization which the Turkish government forbade from participating in the second flotilla. He said it is right and smart to recognize the genocide. He slammed the government and the leading opposition party, Kadima, for opposing his bill and denying the genocide.

Speaker Rivlin noted that he supported the Armenian delegation and the delegation of Jewish parliamentarians from various democracies sitting in the gallery. He openly supported and announced his solidarity with Eldad and his bill.

National Infrastructure Minister Landau (Y.B.) agreed there was genocide of the Armenian people in 1915-1916, which were the final years of the Ottoman Empire. He said Israel never denied the tragedy but has opposed the politicizing of it. He explained that Turkey and Armenia are in discussions on the issue and said Israel has no place there and should leave it an internal issue between those two parties. He suggested turning the bill into a motion. Eldad agreed after Rivlin suggested it would be a step in the right direction to at least discuss it in a committee.

The motion passed 25-1 and was sent to the Education Committee.

Motion/Amendment to the Tenant Protection Bill

MK Sarsur (R.T.) explained his amendment would prohibit the evacuation of a person from his house. He said that hundreds of families are thrown out of their homes every year either because the landlords are kicking them out on the street for failing to pay rent or because they don’t pay taxes. He stressed his bill would prevent this from happening. Speaker Rivlin said he was worried that this bill would cause landlords not to rent apartments to poor people.

Justice Minister Neeman opposed the bill on the grounds that people will stop paying rent and paying taxes if they are not worried about being evicted. He offered government support for a motion on the subject, and Sarsur agreed.

The motion passed 31-0 with one MK abstaining and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Motion/Amendment to the Collection of Taxes Bill

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained his amendment would prohibit the possessing of a debtor’s property or bank account because of parking debts in the first year after receiving a fine. He said the cities have turned parking fines into money makers and are trigger happy on freezing bank accounts and credit cards without warning the person first.

Deputy Finance Minister Cohen said Sheetrit’s bill makes a lot of sense but the government opposes the bill because of pressure from the local authorities. He asked Sheetrit to turn the bill into a motion to keep the issue alive.

The motion passed 34-0 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Amendment to the Independence House Bill

MK Sheetrit explained his amendment would prevent the transfer of the Bible House in the Independence House from the State to the municipality of Tel Aviv. He noted the library has 800 Bibles from the last 400 years, written in 160 different languages. He said the room where the State was declared should remain the property of all Israelis and not be given to Tel Aviv. He slammed the NIS 1 million rent that was placed on the Bible House. He said the connection between the Bible and the founding of the State is undeniable and it is a scandal to think that the Bible House and the room where Israel was created should be given to Tel Aviv so they can evict them.

Culture and Sport Minister Livnat (Likud) expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that the current bill allows the Independence House to govern itself without the government interfering. She said the government is against private organizations receiving protection through the law and is against the government making decisions over the Independence House Council.

MK Sheetrit asked the government why they are clinging to legal technicalities instead of keeping the Bible inside the house where Israel was created. Prime Minister Netanyahu asked Sheetrit to delay the vote or turn the bill into a motion and assured him that he will personally take care of the situation. Sheetrit said there isn’t enough time to prevent it without passing the bill. Netanyahu agreed to help Sheetrit even though Sheetrit was forcing him to vote against the bill.

The bill was defeated 19-30.

Amendment to the Consumer Protection Bill

MK Tiviaev (Kadima) explained his amendment would prohibit the placement of advertisements on cars or vehicles. He stressed this bill is good for the environment because it will prevent littering and will prevent road accidents caused by having many advertisements on the ground. He slammed all the ministers for claiming they support the bill while the government is against it.

Industry and Trade Minister Simhon (Independence) allowed the Kadima MKs to heckle him for about ten minutes because the coalition didn’t have a majority in the plenum. He answered Tiviaev that the government is against the bill because it is not a matter of consumer protection and rather a matter of the environment. He said the government is against having amendments to laws in the wrong places.

MK Tiviaev said he doesn’t even know if the government would support the bill if he did change it. He slammed the government for playing games with him and not taking the opposition seriously. He asked the other MKs for advice on what he should do and ultimately decided to proceed with the vote.

The bill was defeated 16-29.

Amendment to the Evidence Ordinance Bill

MK Solodkin explained her amendment would prohibit a conviction based solely on the defendant’s confession in cases when there is no evidence to convict the defendant. She said many times detectives force confessions out of people and later the defendants are released when the police find the real criminal.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that sometimes confessions are enough to convict. He said that many criminals will walk if this bill is passed. He told Solodkin she was going too far with the bill.

MK Solodkin said she didn’t feel her bill went too far.

The bill was defeated 8-19.

Amendment to the Handicapped Parking Bill

MK Gilon (Meretz) explained his amendment would prohibit anyone who isn’t a police officer from giving penalty charge notices or tickets to licensed handicap vehicles parked in no parking zones. He said there isn’t enough handicap parking zones so handicapped people park in no parking zones and they shouldn’t be ticketed by trigger happy city officials.

Minister Eitan (Likud) warned that Gilon’s bill would hurt the handicapped instead of helping them. He suggested passing legislation that would increase the amount of handicap parking and give city inspectors sensitivity training for dealing with the handicapped. He agreed the city inspectors are trigger happy and suggested giving the job to someone else but not wasting police resources on parking violations. He suggested turning the bill into a motion so all sides- the government, the local authorities and the handicapped- could discuss the matter in committee.

MK Gilon read out the current law, which he claimed is not being followed, and said that is why his bill is necessary. He said he is willing to delay the vote for two weeks but refused to turn the bill into a motion.

Last Tuesday’s session lasted about five hours. Two bills were discussed, and both were advanced after passing their first readings. The bills would offer financial compensation to those who relocated a business as a result of the disengagement and require police officers to wear identifying badges while dispersing demonstrations. For the second straight day the MKs used the legislative discussion to present their views on the arrest of Rabbi Lior.

Non-Bills Summary

• 19 MKs gave speeches during the One Minute Speech segment that opened the session.
• A motion on Blue and White Day was presented with speeches from Speaker Rivlin, Industry and Trade Minister Simhon (Independence) and seven MKs. The motion promotes buying products made in Israel. The motion was not voted on.
• 13 MKs asked Industry and Trade Minister Simhon queries during his question hour.
• A motion on the security prisoners’ strike in prison was discussed by five MKs and Minister Eitan. It was not voted on.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Disengagement Plan Implementation Bill

MK Elkin (Likud) explained his amendment would offer financial compensation and present extra funds to help the businesses that relocated their operations as a result of the disengagement. He explained the extra funds are meant to make up for the relocation costs as well as the higher cost of maintaining a business outside of Gaza and northern Samaria.

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

Amendment to the Police Ordinance Bill

MK Ariel (N.U.) explained his amendment would require every police officer to wear the mandatory identifying badge that includes his name, rank and serial number while dispersing a demonstration. He said that the current law already requires officers to do so at all times but they decide to remove it while dispersing demonstrations to avoid criminal proceedings against them. He noted that viewers of Israeli news noticed most of the policemen responding to the Rabbi Lior arrest riots were not wearing their badges. He noted on Youtube there are many videos where demonstrators ask policemen to identify themselves and they refuse. He said the bill exempts undercover policemen and detectives from wearing the badges if they are not in uniform. He went on to say that the police are not responsible for Rabbi Lior’s arrest; rather, Shai Nitzan is. He said that if the State wanted to they could prosecute Lior and there was no reason to arrest him for the investigation.

MK Molla (Kadima) said as long as the balance between the police’s needs and the citizens’ rights is met he will support the bill. He said the conservatives have gone too far criticizing Lior’s arrest and told them the law is not selective and applies to everyone. He was heckled by the religious MKs in the room for defending Shai Nitzan and criticizing the attempts to delegitimize him. He concluded by stressing that everyone is equal under the law.

MK Khenin (Hadash) said that everyone is equal under the law and supported MK Molla’s speech. He slammed the conservative parties for defending Rabbi Lior. He went on to support the bill and criticize the police for using brutality during protests. He said there is no need for undercover officers in demonstrations since it leads to police brutality.

MK Eichler (U.T.J.) said rabbis are not above the law and they aren’t even equal in the law’s eyes; rather, they are always attacked while the secular leftist academics remain above the law. MK Molla asked for specific cases. Eichler responded with an example about Professor Sternhell, who called on the Palestinians to murder settlers in Judea and Samaria and was awarded the Israel Nobel Prize. He noted there are several professors who delegitimize Israel and call for a boycott on Israeli universities. He supported the bill but slammed the provision that allows highly ranked officers to exempt policemen from wearing the badges in certain circumstances. He called for strengthening the bill. He said there was a case of police brutality this afternoon on an Ultra Orthodox man who cut in line at the Jerusalem central bus station and was beaten to a bloody pulp. He said there is a list of dozens of people who wish to testify in this case and of course the police have not responded to the case. He said the media incites against the religious and they should be the ones arrested, not Rabbi Lior.

MK Zeev (Shas) said that democratic countries that have undercover officers in demonstrations remind him of the recent protests in Egypt and Syria and said democracies don’t do such things. He recalled police brutality he witnessed in Nitzanim and Amona on children. He said undercover officers think it is Purim since they are wearing a mask and will never get in trouble for anything they do. He said we are not talking about undercover officers in drug rings we are talking about undercover officers in demonstrations. He joined Khenin and Eichler with calls to strengthen the bill.

Minister Eitan expressed government support for the bill. He said that undercover officers in demonstrations are needed for intelligence purposes but they shouldn’t be used to disperse demonstrations. He agreed that officers who wear name tags are more likely to think twice before using excessive violence and in the event a citizen is attacked he has the right to know who his attacker is. He concluded by defending the investigation of Rabbi Lior, adding that it was not done to degrade him as MK Ariel charged.

The bill passed its first reading 10-0 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Last Monday’s session lasted about four hours. Two bills were discussed. Two bills became law after passing their third readings and one was advanced after passing its first reading. The new laws temporary stop the streaming of public workers’ funds into a government fund for small businesses and give adoptive parents the same right as birth parents under law. The bill advanced expands the repo agency’s authority. Four MKs took the opportunity to criticize the government for the arrest of Rabbi Dov Lior during the repo bill discussion. One of the no-confidence motions was defeated by a narrow ten-vote margin with 50 MKs not present for the vote.

Non-Bills Summary

• Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The Netanyahu government’s failure in solving the housing shortage for the citizens of Israel and especially for young couples’ was defeated 30-40 with 50 MKs not present.
• Labor and Meretz’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘The government’s failure in the political, social and economic sectors’ was defeated 27-43 with 50 MKs not present.
• Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘The government’s policy of refusing to reach a peace agreement’ was defeated 17-45 with 58 MKs not present.
• State Control Committee Chairman Hasson (Kadima) reported the decision of his committee regarding the provision of water and sewage by private corporations, which had been criticized by the State Comptroller. The report was accepted by a 20-0 vote.
• MK Whbee (Kadima) reported on the Knesset delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) meeting that took place in Croatia last month.
• MK Levi-Abekasis (Y.B.) reported the decision of the Labor, Welfare and Health committee concerning the division of the Economic Efficiency Bill into multiple legislative amendments to implement the economic program for 2009 and 2010. The split was approved by a 17-0 vote.
• Minister Begin announced the transfer of certain authorities from the Agriculture Minister to the Prime Minister’s office.

Bills Summary

Temporary Order on Repealing the Partial Payment of Vacation Pay in the Civil Service in 2010 Bill

Funds Chairman Gafni (U.T.J.) said the bill is co-sponsored by all of the Funds Committee members. He explained that 50% of government workers’ vacation day wages in 2009 and 2010 went into an assistance fund for small businesses. He said the fund currently totals NIS 600 million. He further explained that the money is in the state treasury and that no small business was able to receive funds because of bureaucratic reasons. He attacked the government for lying to the people and for stealing from its own workers. He said that his bill will put an end to this madness and stop the streaming of government workers’ vacation wages into the fund. He went on a rant, slamming the government for hiding sneaky laws in the current Arrangements Bill that make the wages fund bill he is repealing look good. He thanked the government for agreeing to return to the workers their 2010 wages but blasted the government for not agreeing to give back the 2009 wages. He warned his bill is a temporary order and the MKs will have to approve the bill again so that in 2013 the government workers won’t have to give their money to a fund that doesn’t really exist. Speaker Rivlin cut Gafni’s speech short, calling on him to respect the coalition guidelines and take his seat.

The bill passed it second reading 34-1 with one MK abstaining.

The bill passed its third reading 31-0.

Amendment to the Employment of Women Bill

MK Levi-Abekasis (Y.B.) explained that the bill she is presenting is a combination of three separate bills sponsored by MK Schneller, MK Orlev and the government that were merged into one bill. She announced the bill would give adoptive parents the same rights as birth parents, including maternity leave; a one-hour break every day during the four months following maternity leave, called a ‘nursing hour’; prohibition on being fired; receipt of birth welfare payments; and allowing the father to take maternity leave instead of the mother. She noted that for overseas adoption each parent is entitled to a 45-day leave from work with protection from being fired.

MK Schneller (Kadima) explained his part of the bill applies the new laws to women who go through fertility treatments or adopt abroad and gives men rights equal to women in these cases. He said he came up with the idea for the bill while talking with students from Haifa University. He also thanked the dozen couples he spoke with who helped him figure out what to add and what to exclude from the bill.

The bill passed its second reading 19-0.

The bill passed its third reading 23-0.

MK Orlev (J.H.) thanked the Knesset for passing his bill and MK Levi-Abekasis for co-sponsoring with him several bills that help children.

Amendment to the Execution Bill

Minister Begin (Likud) explained the amendment will reform the repo system in Israel in order to speed up the timetable for collections and freezing of assets. He stated the bill will also expand the authority of repo agents, adding, among other things, the ability to force the accused to attend mandatory court appearances.

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) said there is no need for repo agents when there is Justice Minister Neeman’s agent, Shai Nitzan, who has 80-year-old rabbis abducted from their cars and prohibits them from speaking to their lawyers. He warned the government not to get into religion or religious law. He attacked the government for arresting rabbis and started crying from the podium as he asked if religious persecution has reached Israel’s gates. He pulled himself together and slowly walked out of the room in tears.

MK Katzeleh (N.U.) slammed the government for not going into Issawiya, an Arab town that is a five minute drive from the Knesset. He said the poor man who got lost on his way to Ma’aleh Adumim and ended up in Issawiya was attacked by dozens of Arabs just for being Jewish. He said the man was almost lynched but was taken to a hospital by one of the villagers who broke up the fight. He asked why the government doesn’t arrest those responsible for the assault and instead chooses to arrest a rabbi who wrote an approval letter for a book. He told MKs Hotovely and Elkin (Likud) that their Prime Minister Netanyahu is degrading and humiliating the State of Israel.  He asked them how someone can shout out “Kill – Yehud (Jew)” five minutes from the Knesset and the government does nothing. He slammed the government for behaving like they live in the days of Lenin and Stalin, persecuting rabbis and letting anti-semites walk.  He told Netanyahu he should be ashamed of himself and told Neeman he should take off his kippah.

MK Eichler (U.T.J.) asked why the government arrested a holocaust survivor 80-year-old Rabbi for writing an approval for a book instead of going after the hoodlums in Issawiya. He slammed the government for supporting freedom of speech for academics and entertainers but suppressing it for rabbis. He slammed the government for attacking religious Jews in every aspect of their lives, from telling them what to do with their buses to telling their rabbis to discuss only the acceptable parts of Torah (the Bible) in public. He called on the public of Israel to protest the arrest of Rabbi Dov Lior because this is the first step of things to come. He said we are living in the days of Stalin if rabbis are being arrested in black cars and being brought to jail for discussing Jewish laws. He said whoever is responsible for Rabbi Lior’s arrest must be punished.

MK Zeev (Shas) said he knows Rabbi Shapira, who wrote the ‘King’s Torah’ book for which Rabbi Lior wrote a letter of approval for which he was subsequently arrested. He said Shapira gave him the book and that after reading it, it is clear that there is no racism in the book and it does not call for killing non-Jews. He slammed the police and the Justice Ministry for creating a crazy mess and for lying to the public who haven’t read the book. He called on the public to read the book and see the truth for themselves. He called this a blood libel against rabbis.

The bill passed its first reading 16-2 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

The June 22 session lasted about seven and a half hours. Twelve bills were discussed. Five bills were advanced after passing their preliminary readings, four were defeated, two were pulled to avoid defeat and one was turned into a motion. The highlight of the day was the advancing of two bills that would allow single mothers to collect welfare while they are abroad. Bills on giving Rabbis immunity and providing public transportation on the Sabbath were both defeated.

Non-Bills Summary

• Home front Security Minister Vilnai (Independence) and National Infrastructure Minister Landau (Y.B.) answered urgent queries at the beginning of the session.
• National Infrastructure Minister Landau answered two more queries in the middle of the session.
• House Committee Chairman Levin (Likud) announced which disputed bills would go to which committees. His announcement was approved by a 9-0 vote.
• Seven motions were discussed on various topics, and five of those motions were sent to committee for further discussion by the votes 14-0, 11-0, 8-0, 5-0 and 4-0. One motion was defeated by a vote of 3-4, and the other was not voted on.

Bills Summary

Two amendments to the Execution Bill

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained his amendment would prohibit the State from taking away a blind person’s state-funded animal escort even if they don’t pay their taxes. He stated that the blind shouldn’t have to work and the government should pay for all of their expenses and said he hoped this bill would be the first of many steps in that direction.

MK Khenin (Hadash) complained that the blind in Israel live a tough life and his similar amendment is a small step in correcting the many wrongs the government has caused the blind over the years. He noted that most of the blind in Israel do not work, live off of welfare and are very poor.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government support for both bills.

The first bill passed its preliminary reading 29-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

The second bill passed its preliminary reading 29-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Two amendments to the Welfare Bill

MK Kirshenbaum (Y.B.) stated her bill is a socialist bill. She announced that there are over 20,000 single mothers who earn less than NIS 5,000 per month and receive a NIS 2,672 welfare payment from the government. She stated that her amendment would remove the conditions on those payments that require women to forfeit their welfare benefit during visits abroad or all payments if they travel out of the country more than once a year. She said that last year 1,500 single mothers were forced to give up their welfare payments because of extended time overseas and her bill will correct that. She concluded by estimating the bill’s cost at NIS 3 million per year.

MK Khenin explained his similar amendment would correct the wrong that women don’t receive welfare payments because they are abroad.

Speaker Rivlin announced the government does not have an official position on the bill.

The first bill passed its preliminary reading 48-2 and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee will discuss the bill further.

The second bill passed its preliminary reading 51-2 and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee will discuss the bill further.

Obligation of Replacing the Employer Term “Mavid” to “Masik” Bill

MK Shai (Kadima) explained his amendment would change the Hebrew term used for employer to a more politically correct word in Hebrew in order to move away from using a word that also refers to slave ownership. He noted there are 900,000 words in the English language compared to 300,000 in Hebrew, but in this case there are two words for employer in Hebrew and only one in English.

MK Yacimovich (Labor) objected to the bill saying that employers in Israel are slave owners and gave a long campaign speech obviously aimed at Labor party primary voters. She slammed employers who don’t know when their workers are sick, giving birth or having a birthday. She said that changing the language won’t change the truth that employees are treated like slaves.

MK Shai confessed he didn’t know that the bill would be brought to the Knesset in the middle of a primary for Labor party chairmanship. He said he wouldn’t respond to Yacimovich.

Speaker Rivlin announced the government does not have an official position on the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 46-2 with one MK abstaining and was sent to the Labor Committee.

Rabbi Immunity Bill

MK Ben Ari (N.U.) quoted the Justice Minister in a speech to Tel Aviv University from two years ago in which he supported Rabbis receiving judicial immunity when it comes to religious matters. He asked Neeman to support his bill that would give Rabbis that very immunity in law. He criticized the current double standard where artists and cultured academics are given freedom of expression but Rabbis are not and are arrested.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that no one is above the law.

MK Ben Ari slammed Neeman for ignoring his speech and his bill.

The bill was defeated 5-41.

Local Councils Ordinance Bill

MK Naffaa (Balad) explained his amendment would require the Interior Minister to consult with the Assurance Director before he removes a mayor or city councilman from office.

Religious Affairs Minister Margi (Shas) explained that, although it isn’t protected by law, the Interior Minister consults with the Assurance Director before taking actions and, therefore, there is no reason to pass the bill.

Naffaa pulled his bill to avoid defeat.

Motion/Amendment to the Rights of Victims of Crime Bill

MK Bielski (Kadima) explained his amendment would give a traffic accident victim’s family the right to oppose a plea bargain with the defendant. He told a personal story of a girl he knows who is in a vegetative state and the one who did it to her received a sentence of a NIS 1,000 fine and 10 hours of community service.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that the way the bill is written won’t work within the current system. He stated he is willing to accomplish what Bielski wants and to help him draft a new bill but he can’t support the bill the way it is written. He suggested in the meantime turning the bill into a motion.

MK Bielski agreed.

The motion passed 36-2 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

MK Tiviaev (Kadima) explained his amendment would require the mandatory installation of audio alert sensors when cars are in reverse. He said this is a matter of life and death and called on the government to support the bill.

Communications Minister Kahlon (Likud) explained that Israel follows the European standards, which do not require those sensors as a mandatory measure, and, therefore, the government is against the bill.

MK Tiviaev said he is tired of the government blaming everything on European standards, noting there is no European standard for having at least 30 ministers in the government.

The bill was defeated 20-23.

Amendment to the Income Support Bill

MK Solodkin (Kadima) explained her amendment would increase the salary one can earn and still be eligible for an entitlement. She slammed the government for systematically opposing her socialist bills. She warned that the people might overthrow the government like the other Middle East governments for ignoring their citizens’ needs.

Labor and Welfare Minister Kahlon said that there is a lot of logic in the bill but the cost of NIS 320 million is not something the government can support. He stated that baby steps are needed and the first will be for single mothers.

MK Solodkin said she doesn’t believe the government and is sick of all the lies.

The bill was defeated 26-36.

Running Public Transport on the Weekly Day of Rest Bill

MK Horowitz (Meretz) explained there is public transportation in Haifa on the Sabbath and it works well. He stated his bill would require all cities to run public transportation on the Sabbath. He slammed the status quo and the religious parties that prohibit public transportation on the Sabbath in most places. He said he is proud that he drives on the Sabbath.

Communications Minister Kahlon said hurting the religious citizens’ rights and harming the status quo is unacceptable and the government is against the bill.

MK Horowitz said most of Israel doesn’t keep the Sabbath and the government can’t present a real reform in public transportation if it doesn’t include weekend travel.

The bill was defeated 7-36.

Youth Care and Supervision Bill

MK Molla (Kadima) explained his amendment would require the State to appoint a lawyer in charge of minors in cases of child custody. He said this way the children get a say in where they go. He agreed to pull the bill in order to avoid defeat.