A channel 2 poll carried out by Sarid presented the question “Who is more fit to be prime minister?” and 32% responded Livni compared to just 28% who responded Netanyahu. It seems the raising of indirect taxes is hurting both the Likud and its coalition members. The poll shows 33 seats for Kadima, 29 for Likud, 15 for Lieberman, 8 for Shas and 8 for Labor. Barak’s Independence party doesn’t pass the threshold, earning only one seat. Results for the other parties were not shown.
Latest Entries »
Knesset Jeremy Exclusive: Aliyah Minister Landver’s Controversial Response to U.S. Immigration Query
Aliyah Minister Landver states there is no division in her ministry for encouraging American aliyah, adding that it is not her job, and she will not start such a division. Lieberman’s pro-American aliyah voters might think twice before voting Yisrael Beitenu in the next elections.
Query 1097 “U.S. Immigration”, submitted by MK Yaakov Katz
The Ministry of Immigrants and Absorption has specialized departments to encourage immigration from different countries.
I want to ask:
1. Is there such a department to encourage immigration from the U.S.?
If not –
2. Why?
3. Will such a department be established and when?
Response to Query 1097 “U.S. Immigration”
In the query there were three questions, which rely on the assumption that the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption has specialized departments to encourage immigration from different countries.
1. The Ministry of Immigrants and Absorption has no division to encourage immigration from the United States.
The Ministry of Immigrants and Absorption oversees the absorption of immigrants from all over the world.
The Ministry of Immigrants and Absorption deals with the treatment and encouragement of special populations, such as those from Ethiopia, Caucasus and Bukhara, in specialized designated departments.
2. Regarding the United States and Britain, the Ministry relies on the assistance of private system operator organizations that encourage immigration.
In addition, the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization is working in these areas and receives support in accordance with their ability to meet the necessary criteria.
3. No department will be established to encourage immigration from the United States, as the ministry firmly deals with the absorption of immigrants.
Minister of Immigrants and Absorption Landver
Official Hebrew Documents:
I encourage my loyal readers to tune in tonight and catch me and Mordechai Kedar on the Bibi Report at 9 PM EST.
Tune in to:
More info:
AS PM Netanyahu is celebrating his 2nd anniversary of the Feb. 10 2009 election victory, we look back to the past 2 years, and to the challenges facing Israel in the next 2 years, what has been done and what is yet to be achieved- with our Jerusalem Knesset correspondence Jeremy Man Saltan – A Former Comedian who works in the Knesset and blogs on the daily activity in the parliament, to analyze the latest polls and the challenges facing the gov’t of Israel. Our Guest on the discussion board is Mordechai Kedar – an Israeli scholar of Arabic literature and a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, Kedar is an academic expert on the Israeli Arab population. He served for twenty-five years in IDF Military Intelligence, where he specialized in Islamic groups, the political discourse of Arab countries, the Arabic press and mass media, and the Syrian domestic arena. to discuss Egypt and Ikhwan, Obama’s support of the Ikhwan, what is a ahead in the region given the volatility, The US-Israel relations and Israeli politics.
Tuesday’s session was brief and lasted less than two and a half hours. Four bills were discussed and advanced in their first readings. Among the bills advanced were one that prevents communications companies from spamming and one that prevents sex offenders from being hired in certain institutions.
Non-Bills Summary
- 19 MKs participated in the One Minute Speech segment of the day. Egypt was the main topic.
- Six MKs asked questions to Environment Minister Erdan (Likud) during a question hour.
Bills Summary
Amendment to the Preventing the Hiring of Sex Offenders in Certain Institutions Bill
Women Rights Committee Chairwoman Hotovely (Likud) expressed her hope that the amendment would assist helpless women. She said the amendment will increase the number of institutions and the number of crimes that are included in the original bill.
MK Ben Ari (N.U.) said that society must distance itself from these types of people and expressed his support for the bill. He went on to predict that Egyptian President Mubarak will fall and that the peace with Egypt will come to an end. He blasted the government for past peace agreements and cease fires. He predicted that Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Palestinians will take advantage of our weaknesses and create a disaster that Israel could have prevented.
MK Naffaa (Balad) praised the bill and called for adding all educational institutions to the bill before its next reading.
The bill passed its first reading 8-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.
Amendment to the Elections Bill
Law, Constitution and Justice Committee Chairman Rotem explained that the amendment will increase the number of polling stations for those doing national service, handicapped citizens and prisoners.
The bill passed its first reading 8-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.
Amendment to the Communications Bill
Public Petitions Committee Chairman Maklev (U.T.J.) explained that his amendment would prevent spam by telecommunication and broadcasting companies. He said that the bill would prohibit the companies from using an automatic dialing system from an unidentified phone number to promote their commercials. He stated this will eliminate the legislative loophole that allows companies to call someone and hang up in order to trick the customer into calling them back from their own phone which results in the customer paying for the call instead of the company.
MK Shamalov Berkovich (Kadima) said she was proud to be a co-sponsor of the bill and felt it was a very important bill.
MK Ben Ari said that he approved of the bill. He slammed the Israeli lottery, who he claimed are the biggest violators of what the bill is aiming to correct. He went on to blast the Israeli lottery and called it gambling.
The bill passed its first reading 7-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.
Amendment to the National Insurance Bill
MK Yacimovich (Labor) explained that her amendment would extend for two years an experimental program in select cities. The program cuts out the middleman who collects money from the government that is earmarked for certain people and then distributes the money to those who are entitled to receive it. She explained the program allows the government to give the money directly to those who are entitled without the middleman being involved at all.
MK Michaeli (Shas) expressed his support for the bill and said it was very important.
The bill passed its first reading 5-0 and was sent to the Welfare Committee.
Today’s session lasted less than three hours. All three bills discussed became law after passing their third readings. The government survived the three no-confidence motions submitted by the opposition on the topics of raising fuel prices, the Al Jazeera papers and the building freeze in Jerusalem. Speaker Rivlin broke from the government and his party by deciding not to participate in the no-confidence motion vote on the continued building freeze in Jerusalem, despite being present and presiding over the debate and voting. National Union took the opportunity for a roll-call vote, forcing Rivlin to state on the record that he chose not to participate in the vote. It should be noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu was not present for the vote.
Non-Bills Summary
- Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘Netanyahu raises the fuel prices and belittles the middle class sector of the population’ was defeated 39-56 with 25 MKs not present.
- Labor and Meretz’s joint no-confidence motion titled ‘Exposing the government’s policy by Al Jazeera and the ongoing political deadlock’ was defeated 37-57-1 with 25 MKs not present.
- National Union’s no-confidence motion titled ‘The continued building freeze in Jerusalem by the government’ was defeated 30-56-5 with 28 MKs not present. Jerusalem resident Speaker Rivlin was present and decided not to participate in the vote. It should be noted this is the first time this term that Speaker Rivlin did not support the government in a no-confidence vote.
Bills Summary
Amendment to the Bar Association Bill
MK Michaeli (Shas) said that the amendment would temporarily disbar Court Registrars and Judges for the time they serve in those positions. He explained that they would regain their bar licenses automatically after they leave their positions.
The bill passed its second reading 33-1.
The bill passed its third reading 30-0.
Amendment to the Israel Consumer Council Bill
Finance Committee Chairman Shama (Likud) explained that the amendment would privatize the Israel Consumer Council and therefore discontinue government funding.
The bill passed its second reading 29-0.
The bill passed its third reading 27-0.
Amendment to the Execution Bill
Justice, Constitution and Law Committee Chairman Rotem (Y.B.) explained that the amendment would improve the cooperation among the different ministries’ computers in regards to population information. He said the amendment would also force government seizing authorities’ personnel to receive certification for their job through a training course.
The bill passed its second reading 29-0.
The bill passed its third reading 28-0.
Jeremy's Knesset Insider 