Jeremy's Knesset Insider

Last Wednesday’s session lasted about eight hours and forty five minutes. An additional seven bills were split off from the Arrangements Bill. Ten bills were discussed. Five bills passed their preliminary reading and were advanced, two were defeated, two were turned into motions in order to avoid defeat and one was pulled before being voted on for the same reason. The highlight bill of the day was one that will prohibit communications companies from charging cancellation fees to their customers- that bill advanced. Another bill that advanced was the Female Representation on Inquiry Committees and Government Review Commissions Bill, a bill that found MK Zeev as the sole objector.

Non-Bills Summary

• Speaker Rivlin announced at the opening of the session that Deputy Speaker Shama (Likud) submitted his resignation as Deputy Speaker and that it was accepted.
• Splitting Bills off from Arrangements Bill: Funds Committee Chairman Gafni (U.T.J.) asked the Knesset to split four bills from the Arrangements Bill. He explained that the first concerns raising taxes, the second would give a municipal tax exemption to property burned in the Carmel fire, the third involves agriculture rules and the fourth addresses how citizens should be reporting their taxes. The four bills were split off by votes of 24-0, 26-0, 26-0 and 26-0. MK Dicter (Kadima) asked the Knesset to split a bill from the Arrangements Bill in the name of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee. He explained that the bill would allow the army to force Bezeq to put up any new phone lines needed in a time of war. The bill was split off by a 14-0 vote. Finance Committee Chairman Shama (Likud) asked the Knesset to split two bills from the Arrangements Bill. He explained the first bill would designate certain areas to search for oil and the second would institute several changes to the rules of television broadcasts. The two bills were split off by votes of 13-0 and 13-0.
• Speaker Rivlin greeted the Macedonian Speaker of the House and his entourage with a warm speech.
• Transportation Minister Katz (Likud), Environment Minister Erdan (Likud), Deputy Finance Minister Cohen (Shas) and Education Minister Sa’ar (Likud) answered urgent queries.
• House Committee Chairman MK Levin (Likud) announced that his committee has nominated MK Akunis (Likud) to replace MK Shama (Likud) as Deputy Speaker following Shama’s resignation. The Knesset approved the nomination 15-0.
• House Committee Chairman MK Levin announced a shuffle in the Funds Committee. MK Oron (Meretz) and MK Hermesh (Kadima) will be members of the committee and MK Tirosh (Kadima) will now be a substitute.
• House Committee Chairman MK Levin announced the committee’s decisions on which disputed bills and motions should be discussed in which committees. The decisions were approved 21-0.
• Nine motions were discussed on the hot topics of the day. Seven were passed and sent to their relevant committees for further discussion by votes of 11-0, 6-0, 4-0, 6-0, 7-0, 5-0, and 6-0. Two motions were defeated by the narrow margins of 6-8 and 2-4.
• Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon (Y.B.) and Religious Affairs Minister Margi (Shas) answered queries at the end of the session.

Bills Summary

Olympic Preparations Bill

MK Miller (Y.B.) explained that his amendment would require the State to put aside 20 million NIS annually for the preparations required for assembling the Israeli Olympic team.

Culture Minister Livnat (Likud) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 22-0 and was sent to the Culture and Sport Committee.

Amendment to the Companies Bill

MK Amnon Cohen explained that his amendment would require private investment houses to fulfill the same duties that public investment houses are required to follow. He gave the example of disclosing annual financial statements as one of those duties.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government support for the bill.

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

Female Representation on Inquiry Committees and Government Review Commissions Bill

MK Itzik (Kadima) explained that her amendment would require female representation on all government inquiry committees and government review commissions. She blasted past governments and the current government for not assigning women to these committees. She noted that only two females have served in such committees since the founding of the State.

Justice Minister Neeman expressed government support for the bill. He clarified that the amendment would require a third of every committee to be female as long as they meet the requirements to be a committee member.

Galil and Negev Minister Shalom (Likud) expressed his personal support for the bill. He asked that some of the females on the committees should be from the Negev and the Galil and not be the wives of the male committee members.

MK Zeev (Shas) objected to the bill. He said that this will not bring equality to women, but will send them further from their husbands. He asked why committees need to spend months finding the few qualified women, when they could be investigating. He said that women have equal rights when they stand beside their husbands. He warned this bill hurts the standing of women. He questioned a committee’s ability to make decisions when one-third of its members are women.

MK Itzik said that she knows Zeev’s wife personally and that she expects that he will be punished when he gets home tonight.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 56-0 (MK Zeev didn’t vote) and was sent to the House Committee to determine if the Women’s Rights Committee or the Justice Committee would discuss the bill further.

Motion/Amendment to the Copyright Bill

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) explained that his amendment would permit parents to download their children’s textbooks and workbooks from government websites. He expressed hope that this would help parents save thousands of shekels annually. He questioned why a country in which over 70% of households have internet access should force parents to spend money unnecessarily.

Education Minister Sa’ar (Likud) said that he agreed with the bill in principle, but that the bill calls for a complete widespread change that the education ministry is not ready for. He suggested Sheetrit turn the bill into a motion that will be discussed in the Science and Technology Committee which Sheetrit chairs.

MK Sheetrit agreed.

The motion passed 37-0.

Amendment to the Communications Bill

MK Shamalov-Berkovich (Kadima) explained that her amendment would prohibit land line, broadcast and communications companies from charging their customers cancellation fines. She said that the current situation prevents free market and competition. She asked why a customer who is not pleased with the service of his television, internet or cell phone company should be forced to pay for termination of the service.

Speaker Rivlin thanked Shamalov-Berkovich for founding the Russian Channel 9 without asking for any government funds.

MK Akunis (Likud) called it a capitalistic and moral bill. He said his office received several complaints about cancellation fees that surpassed 5,000 NIS. He called the prohibition of cancellation fees a revolution that will liberate the Israeli customer from his virtual jail cell.

Communications Minister Kahlon (Likud) expressed government support for the bill and thanked co-sponsors Shamalov-Berkovich and Akunis for pushing this bill for the last six months. Kahlon said that a fine is given to a criminal and not to a consumer.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 43-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

MK Bielski (Kadima) explained that his amendment would require a minimum sentence for abandoning a person injured in an accident and a prohibition from accepting a plea bargain from the defendant for such an offense. He thanked the government for coming to their senses and supporting the bill. He noted that 243 hit and run crimes were committed in 2010. He thanked a long list of politicians and assistants who helped him with the bill. He also apologized for hurting the transportation minister’s feelings.

Transportation Minister Katz (Likud) expressed government support for the bill.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 45-0 and was sent to the Justice Committee.

Non-Formal Education for Children and Youth Bill

MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) explained that his amendment would budget for more youth groups, community centers and other after-school non-formal education centers. He revealed that his professional background is in this field. He quoted studies that found cities with more non-formal educational programs have less crime. He warned that many of these programs are in danger of closing. He hoped to set a standard for the future. He was told that the government was against the bill because the government planned to present their own version of the bill. He said that he has been waiting for a year already, and he is willing to give the credit to the government if they want it. He said that the bill is more important than the credit. He agreed for now to withdraw the bill but warned that if in five months he doesn’t see a government version of the bill, he will bring up the bill again in order to embarrass them.

Amendment to the Rental and Borrowing Bill

MK Molla (Kadima) explained that his amendment would set a limit on raising rents. He blasted the government for allowing the real estate market to skyrocket. He said that rental prices are leading young couples into bankruptcy. He called for a ceiling on rent prices and for regulation on the rental real estate property market. He remarked that people are leaving the country in order to find cheaper rental prices. He asked how we could be members of the OECD if people can’t afford rent.

Minister Begin (Likud) expressed government opposition to the bill. He noted that Kadima MK Tiviaev and former Kadima MK Nudelman both submitted identical bills, and they were both defeated. Begin said there is no reason for the government to regulate the renting market of real estate properties. He said that every owner is allowed to charge what they want, and if the renter does not want to pay that price he is free to live somewhere else. Begin reminded Molla that we live in a free country, and people can more or less do what they want unless they are hurting someone or the country.

MK Molla responded that when the public is hurting, it is the legislators’ job to come in and do something about it. He attacked Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was in the room, for hurting young couples’ chances to live in a normally priced apartment.

The bill was defeated 24-36.

Client Liability for Contractor Services and Workers’ Rights Bill/Motion

MK Khenin (Hadash) said this was among his most important bills. He warned that 20% of workers are employed through contractor services and therefore their employers are not legally responsible for their rights. He said that for the employers this situation is comfortable and presents incentives to use contactor services, but it is a nightmare for the workers who are not given the rights they deserve. He said it was an illegitimate attempt to avoid giving workers the conditions needed to work.

Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Noked (Labor) expressed government opposition to the bill. She called the bill too widespread and mentioned there is a similar government bill that will deal with specific issues and not eliminate contractor services altogether. She asked Khenin to turn the bill into a motion.

MK Khenin called the government bill unbalanced and limiting. He warned that the government bill will not provide an answer to all the people who are being used every day. Khenin agreed to turn the bill into a motion.

The motion passed 23-0 and was sent to the Labor Committee.

Amendment to the National Health Insurance Bill

MK Oron (Meretz) explained that his amendment would allow insurance holders the ability to select where to receive services. He explained that sometimes people are sent to further clinics instead of ones that are closer to them for certain treatments and doctor appointments and are not able to decide for themselves where to go. He stated that Israel has a great national health insurance system, and this bill will correct one of the few problems that remain.

Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.) said he personally supports the bill but the government opposes the bill and he will respect the coalition. He explained the government is afraid that the clinics will not be able to handle it if insurance holders had that much control.

MK Oron asked that in the future the government send someone to object to his bill that actually opposes it.

The bill was defeated 11-30.

Last Tuesday’s session lasted about two and a half hours. Three bills were discussed. One bill was advanced after passing its first reading, and two bills became law after passing their third readings. The highlight of the day was the new law that will prohibit any pharmaceuticals or cosmetics to be tested on animals. The new law will take effect in two years. The bill that was advanced will exempt youth hostels from paying city taxes.

Non-Bills Summary

• 16 MKs participated in the One Minute Speech segment of the day.
• Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.) had a query hour and answered five MKs’ questions.
• A motion on the Housing Minister’s measures to cool the property market was discussed by four MKs and Housing Minister Atias (Shas). The motion passed 6-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Bills Summary

Amendment to the Municipal Taxes and the Government Taxes Ordinance Bill

MK Orlev (J.H.) explained that his amendment would exempt youth hostels, recognized non-formal schools and field schools from any municipal or city taxes. He noted that there are only ten field schools in Israel, and the cost of this bill in that regard is a mere 900,000 NIS annually.

MK Zeev (Shas) remembered that this bill was created right after his bill exempted synagogues from municipal taxes. Zeev said that he supports this bill as well. He noted that youth hostels already are afforded a two-thirds discount on municipal taxes, and he supports giving them a full exemption. He suggested that the local Jerusalem store owners that are being hurt by the light-rail line construction should also be given a discount on municipal taxes.

MK Khenin (Hadash) supported the bill. He attacked the Field School Federation for funding the two field schools that are not within the 1967 borders and called for them to only fund field schools that are within Israel’s internationally recognized borders. He said that he doesn’t feel those two schools deserve a tax exemption, but he will vote for the bill in order to assist the other eight schools.

The bill passed its first reading 6-0 and was sent to the Funds Committee.

Amendment to the Tenders Bill

Justice, Constitution, and Law Committee Chairman MK Rotem (Y.B.) said that this was one of the most important bills he has seen. He said this amendment encourages the government to hire Israelis and to buy Israeli products. He noted it would raise the number of government workers and Israeli factories. He thanked the main sponsor of the bill, MK Yacimovich, for pushing this bill down everyone’s throat.

The bill passed its second reading 9-0 with Deputy Speaker Tibi (R.T.) abstaining.

The bill passed its third reading 9-0 with Deputy Speaker Tibi abstaining.

MK Yacimovich (Labor) noted that this is her 30^th bill that has become law and that she is glad that one of her most important bills is a round number. She thanked a long list of politicians and assistants who helped her advance this bill in the previous Knesset and the current one. She said that it took over three and a half years to come to this day and that she is very pleased.

MK Whbee (Kadima), one of the bill’s co-sponsors, thanked Yacimovich for helping him secure many jobs for the Druze community that he represents.

Amendment to the Pharmacists Ordinance Bill

Education, Culture and Sport Committee Chairman MK Miller (Y.B.) explained that the amendment would prohibit any pharmaceuticals or cosmetics to be tested on animals on Israeli soil. He explained that the law will only take effect in two years in order to give the pharmaceutical companies time to finish their current trials. He wished luck to the animals and expressed hope that this would help them in the long term.

The bill passed its second reading 7-0.

The bill passed its third reading 8-0.

MK Cabel, the main sponsor of the bill, thanked his assistants, the assistants of the committee, his co-sponsors and former committee chairman Orlev, all of whom helped him advance his bill.

Last Monday’s session lasted five and a half hours. Eight bills were discussed. Four bills advanced after passing their first readings, and four bills became law after passing their third readings. The extension for an additional two years of special laws regarding security prisoners was the highlight of the day. MKs from Meretz, Hadash and Balad spent over an hour objecting to the bill, while Justice Committee Chairman Rotem attacked them for not showing up to the committee meetings. More bills were split off from the Arrangements Bill, and bills that had been split off earlier were either passed or advanced.

Non-Bills Summary

• Kadima’s no-confidence motion titled ‘Netanyahu’s government loses control – The Prime Minister is running away from responsibility and his ministers are rolling the responsibility from one to another’ was defeated by the vote of 31-53 (36 MKs not present).
• The three Israeli-Arab parties’ no-confidence motion tilted ‘The racist government policies of Judaization of the Galilee and the Negev, the demolition of Arab houses and sponsorship of racist rabbis’ was defeated by a vote of 8-55 with 14 MKs abstaining and 43 MKs not present.
• Speaker Rivlin greeted the Russian Federation Committee to Israel with a warm speech.
• House Committee Chairman Levin (Likud) announced changes in the Knesset committees. MK Shama (Likud) and MK Akunis (Likud) will switch places in the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee: Akunis will be a member of the committee and Shama will be a substitute. MK Akunis will replace MK Danon (Likud) in the House Committee and MK Akunis will replace MK Shama in the Finance Committee.
• House Committee Chairman Levin also announced which disputed bills would be discussed in which committees.
• Splitting off Bills from the Arrangements Bill: Labor, Health and Welfare Committee Chairman MK Haim Katz (Likud) explained that he was asking the Knesset to split off a bill that has to do with pensions from the Arrangements Bill. It passed 15-0. MK Ilatov (Y.B.) asked the Knesset to split off a bill in the name of the Finance Committee. He explained the amendment discusses DTT licensing in Arabic. It passed 11-0.
• Queries were answered at the end of the session by Transportation Minister Katz (Likud).

Bills Summary

Amendment to the 2002 Arrangements Bill

Funds Committee Chairman MK Gafni (U.T.J.) explained that the amendment to the 2002 Arrangements Bill was split off from the current 2010-2011 Arrangements Bill.  He clarified that the amendment would delay the raising of prices of national health insurance services until 2013.

The bill passed its second reading 48-0.

The bill passed its third reading 49-0.

Two Amendments to the Real Property Tax Bill

Funds Committee Chairman MK Gafni explained that the amendments were split off from the Arrangements Bill. He said that the amendments would ease the bureaucracy on real estate property taxes. He expressed hope that it would cause improvement in the real estate property industry and encourage the acquisition of more real estate properties. He noted that by splitting these bills from the Arrangements Bill it enables the opposition to vote for the bills instead of voting against them as part of the budget vote. Gafni noted that the second amendment’s co-sponsor is opposition member MK Oron (Meretz).

The first bill passed its second reading 45-0.

The first bill passed its third reading 42-0.

MK Oron (Meretz) thanked Speaker Rivlin for helping him split his bill off the Arrangements Bill, which now allows him to vote for his own bill. He asked the government to continue this practice in the future and to only leave the bills with which the opposition disagrees in the Arrangements Bill and the budget.

The second bill passed its second reading 25-0.

The second bill passed its third reading 28-0.

Temporary Provision Extension on the Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Bill

Justice, Construction and Law Committee Chairman MK Rotem (Y.B.) explained that the amendment would extend for an additional two years the State’s ability to hold detainees suspected of security offenses in certain instances without seeing a judge.

MK Khenin (Hadash) objected to the bill for about twenty minutes. He said it was undemocratic for a suspect not to be a part of his trial and to not know with what and why he is being charged. He blasted the clause which allows the police or army to hold all security prisoners for 96 hours without seeing a judge or a lawyer while allowing them to be interrogated and investigated countless times within that span. He charged that it allows the investigators more time to torture the prisoners physically and psychologically, causing the prisoners to confess to crimes they didn’t commit. He noted that the Supreme Court has ruled against this bill countless times. He questioned if arresting people on the grounds they might do something is worthy of hard time. He said this bill was an attack on democracy and a violation of human rights. He warned that if we don’t protect the security prisoners today, tomorrow your rights might be taken away as well.

MK Horowitz (Meretz) objected to the bill and said he agreed with every word Khenin said. He went on to read several Supreme Court rulings that found this law to be an illegal and immoral one. He asked how logically Israel could try people without them being present for their trial and therefore without representation. He suggested it was undemocratic. He called this temporary provision that gets extended every two years intolerable. He suggested that this bill comes from the point of view that the Knesset doesn’t trust the courts. He labeled this one of the saddest points in the current Knesset. He quoted a joint Yeshiva University and Stanford University study that found that 25% of detainees give false confessions under duress.

MK Oron objected to the bill on the grounds that it is a temporary provision, which creates a judicial loophole that entitles the Knesset to ignore Supreme Court rulings against it. He said that the Knesset has been playing this game for years and it is undemocratic. He stated that even terrorists should be afforded human rights. He noted that other than Committee Chairman Rotem, no other MK showed up to the committee meeting on this bill. He pondered how one person could decide for the entire coalition.

MK Zahalka (Balad) objected to the bill for about twenty minutes as well. He called it a violation of human rights and a Supreme Court bypass bill by the serial Supreme Court bypasser Rotem. He said that Rotem is going against both the detainees and the judges in this bill by preventing a trial that would be afforded in every other democratic country in the world. He noted a clause which allows the prisoner to see his lawyer only once every 21 days. He blasted the Knesset for acting as the rubber stamp of the Shabak. He read from the protocol of the committee meeting Rotem held for himself in which he stated “after visiting the jails that the Shabak operates from, I came to understand the need to extend this bill for another year”. Zahalka asked how suspected terrorists get worse treatment than known mobsters. He blasted the clause that allows an officer to extend the 96 hours a detainee can be held without seeing a judge for another 24 hours. He slammed Israel for violating the ICCPR accord that it signed with this bill. He called all security prisoners’ arrests illegal.

MK Rotem said that this bill is a Supreme Court bypass bill, but there is separation of the different branches of government. He quoted former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak from his book, in which he said that it is the Knesset’s job to legislate the bills and the court’s job to interpret the bills and to disqualify them if needed. Rotem said that when he follows President Barak he sleeps well at night. He blasted the MKs who objected to the bill. He said that non-profit organizations gave the MKs a list of objections, and they submitted them without reading the bill. He noted that none of them bothered showing up to the countless committee meetings, during which experts for and against the bill were allowed equal time to talk. He attacked the objecting MKs for saying that this bill takes away power from the judges. He noted that most of the objections came on the right of judges to extend the investigation period for 21 days, yet they chose to talk about other paragraphs that they are not even objecting to. He noted that only in cases where the judge feels that there is a danger that lives may be lost can a judge decide not to allow the detainee to be present for his trial or know with what he is being charged. He noted that the Supreme Court judges can overrule any judge’s decision on any of the matters of this bill. He said that sometimes democracy needs to protect itself and use the democratic principle of defensive democracy; therefore, it is a democratic bill and a necessary one.

The paragraphs of the bill were passed in their second readings 16-5, 17-4, 18-4, 18-4, 18-4 and 18-4.

The objections were defeated 4-18, 4-17, 3-17, 4-16, 4-17, 4-18 and 4-18. After the first seven objections were defeated the MKs withdrew the other twenty-something objections.

The bill passed its third reading 18-5.

MK Rotem thanked the Knesset for helping ensure the security of its citizens and for allowing the State to fight terrorism and terrorists. He also thanked MK Zahalka for missing all of the committees meetings on the subject and for showing up on the last day of the committee and presenting him with a pile of objections. He suggested Zahalka show up for the meetings next time and that it might bring more weight to his extremist opinions.

Amendments to the Security Service Bill

Deputy Defense Minister Vilnai (Labor) explained that the amendments would slowly reduce the number of policemen, prison guards and soldiers serving Israel over the next two years, but its implementation would be delayed for six months.

MK Zeev (Shas) said that there was no need to delay the reduction and that the reduction should be cancelled.

The first amendment passed its first reading 14-2 and was sent to the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.

The second amendment passed its first reading 14-2 and was sent to the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.

Amendment to the Entry into Israel Bill

Interior Minister Yishai (Shas) explained that the amendment would create a court for foreigners and non-citizens. The court would try all cases against foreign workers, illegal foreign workers, refugees and illegal refugees. He explained that the regular courts are bombarded with tens of thousands of these types of cases each year and that a new court was needed to deal with these specific issues.

MK Khenin called it a dangerous bill. He said at one time only the Supreme Court tried cases involving foreigners and now we are creating a court for foreigners. He noted that the new court will only require one of the three judges to be an ordained judge.

MK Horowitz called it a bad bill. He claimed that 90% of the illegal workers haven’t had enough time to renew their 3-month visas and are not bad people.

MK Zeev thanked Minister Yishai for bringing order to the illegal workers situation in Israel and for dealing with the infiltrators from Sudan.

MK Levin (Likud) said that drastic times call for drastic measures. He noted that the courts are overworked and this will help us bring swift justice in this case and hopefully in the future to more cases as well.

The bill passed its first reading 13-2 and was sent to the Interior Committee.

Amendment to the Magen David Adom Bill

Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.) explained that the amendment would force people to pay fees for emergency transport services and ambulances. He said that Magen David Adom would be able to force the people to pay for these services by placing interest on the fines and by refusing non-emergency services to the person in the future.

MK Zeev said that a man who orders an ambulance for his neighbor, who, in certain cases, can’t talk on the phone, must give his name and his teudat zehut number before they send the ambulance. Zeev said that currently in these cases the man who called for the ambulance, and not the man who was taken away in the ambulance, must pay the bill. He determined that this was unjust and this amendment might make a person think twice before they order their neighbor or friend an ambulance. Zeev blasted the fact that Magen David Adom charges 660 NIS for an ambulance for life threatening cases and for checking blood pressure equally. He said that a surgery done on an ambulance that no one signed for can cost thousands of shekels.

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

Wednesday’s session on December 15th lasted about eight hours. Eight bills were discussed. Five bills were advanced, one was defeated, one was turned into a motion and one was postponed until next week. The first two bills that passed, known as the “Military Conversion Bill,” would allow the rabbi of the army to have the same authority as that of the rabbis of the State. A bill that would cancel credit card purchase fees and a bill that would no longer require a consumer to commit to a company for a specified amount of time were both advanced as well. A bill that would increase the punishment for nationalistic arsonists was defeated, just a week after the Carmel fire.

Non-Bills Summary

• Deputy Health Minister Litzman (U.T.J.) and Homeland Security Minister Aharonovitch (Y.B.) answered urgent queries at the beginning of the session.
• The motion on the disaster up north was voted on. Meretz’s speeches were defeated 23-40, National Union’s speeches were defeated 3-62, the three Israeli Arab parties’ speeches were defeated 24-38 and Kadima’s speeches were defeated 26-40. The Likud’s speeches were accepted 38-28.
• Seven other motions were discussed on the hot topics of the day. Four motions were passed and sent to committees for further discussion by votes of 13-3, 11-0, 10-1-1 and 5-0. Three motions were defeated and will not reach committee by votes of 7-8, 4-10 and 3-3.
• Deputy Defense Minister Vilnai (Labor) answered queries toward the end of the session.

Bills Summary

Military Conversion Bill

Before the bill was discussed Speaker Rivlin warned that he would preside over this bill with an iron fist and would not allow any rioting.

MK Rotem (Y.B.) explained that the army has been converting gentiles into Jews for years and that the validity of those conversions was never questioned. He added that his Conversion Bill passed its preliminary reading without the section dealing with military conversions earlier this year. He was asked to split the bill into two in order to buy more time for negotiating the military conversions. He noted that Israel’s Chief Rabbi Amar chose to avoid the negotiating table for 90 days and then asked for an extension. Rotem slammed the proposal that would have two types of conversions. He questioned why the same court and judges that currently convert both military and non-military groups would have to split those they convert into two. He charged that the court doesn’t want to convert soldiers and that this bill will force them to convert everyone equally. He added that former Israel Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef supported military conversions when he was in charge of Israel’s conversions. Rotem was interrupted several times during his speech.

The government chose not to support or oppose the bill, so no minister responded.

Amendment to the Religious Community Conversion Ordinance Bill

MK Orlev (J.H.) explained that his similar amendment would allow the army to present a soldier a certificate of conversion to Judaism during his military service. He explained that this bill would help the 800 soldiers who are currently enrolled in the army’s conversion program to receive the same rights that the previous 4,000 military converts have received over the last fifty years. He explained that this bill would allow the Army Chief Rabbi to receive the same rights of conversion as the Israel Chief Rabbi in the matter of approving the conversions by the rabbinical courts.

The government chose not to support or oppose the bill, so no minister responded.

MK Gafni (U.T.J.) objected to the bills. He noted that the National Religious Party created the position of the Israel Chief Rabbi and today is destroying it. He asked why a medic who passes a course in the army is not good enough to become a doctor, but a person who is converted in the army is good enough to be a Jew in civilian life. He said that his public voted against the formation of the chief rabbinate but accepted it, and this bill pushes his community to question if they will accept the chief rabbinate any longer. Gafni attacked Rotem and Orlev for dividing the nation by creating a conversion certificate “a” and a conversion certificate “b”.

Interior Minister Yishai (Shas) objected to the bills. He warned that this was the most dangerous bill he has seen since he was elected to the Knesset. He quoted a letter from the Army Chief Rabbi to Rabbi Drukman outlining his objection to the conversion bills. He asked Rotem and Orlev to please delay the voting on these bills for the sake of Israel’s future as a Jewish state.

MK Rotem responded that Yishai is the one who wants the headlines. He attacked Gafni who does not eat the chief rabbinate’s kosher products and noted that every religious practice in Israel has more than one track.

MK Orlev responded that the connection between synagogue and state is the foundation of the national religious Zionists. He said that there is no reason to worry that the orthodox will not control the conversions, just like there is no reason to worry that the orthodox will no longer control the kosher supervisions.

MK Sheetrit (Kadima) said that he objected to the bills but supported the content of the bills.

Rotem’s bill passed its preliminary reading 74-18 (28 MKs not present) and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee would discuss the bill further.

Orlev’s bill passed its preliminary reading 75-18-7 (20 MKs not present) and was sent to the House Committee to decide which committee would discuss the bill further.

Amendment to the Debit Cards Bill

MK Danon (Likud) explained that his amendment would enable all credit and debit cards to clear on any machine. He said that this would put an end to a person presenting a credit card and being told that the particular credit card company is not accepted by that business. He added that businesses will no longer be charged the credit card interest and fees for every transaction and that this will allow them to lower their prices. He concluded by declaring this a day of celebration for small businesses, the end of credit card companies’ monopolies, and the future lowering of prices for the consumer.

The minister who was supposed to submit the government’s position was davening mincha, and Speaker Rivlin decided to call for a vote anyway.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 18-0 and was sent to the Finance Committee.

Amendment to the Consumer Protection Bill

MK Cabel (Labor) explained that his amendment would prohibit companies from adding a conditional clause in a business deal or transaction that would require the consumer to commit to the company for a specified period of time.

Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Noked (Labor) expressed government support for the bill and said that this bill will change every day life as we know it.

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

Amendment to the Defamation (Lashon Hara) Bill

MK Orlev explained that his amendment would combat the internet comments that cause injustice by spreading “lashon hara” about other people.

Bureaucracy Minister Eitan (Likud) pondered if the internet needs legislative boundaries. He added that technology must accept moral values and codes of conduct. He expressed government support for the bill.

MK Yacimovich (Labor) objected to the bill on the grounds that it limits freedom of expression and freedom of the press. She said that according to the current Defamation Bill, “lashon hara” only applies if you know the person that is being talked about, which means that this amendment- which would extend the current bill to the internet- is trying to protect the MKs. She stated that she opposes any bill that protects MKs. She recalled her opposition to the closing of Arutz Sheva on the grounds of freedom of expression as well.

MK Orlev responded that there are other people in the news beside politicians, such as celebrities, athletes and scientists. He asked how it could harm freedom of expression if the bill currently applies to all instances other than the internet. He explained that his amendment would close a loophole in the system. He pondered why we were sending a message to the public that if they want to break the law they can only do it online.

The bill passed its preliminary reading 27-0 and was sent to the Science Committee.

Amendment to the Penal Code Bill

MK Katzeleh (N.U.) explained that his amendment would institute mandatory jail time and an increased punishment for arsonists who destroy public property for nationalistic reasons compared to arsonists who destroy public property for criminal reasons. He noted that additional fires that were set during the Carmel fire could have been prevented if the arsonists knew that they were facing hard time. He asked how a bill could be more moral than right after we buried 43 of our dead. He quoted Mark Twain, who on his trip to Israel asked, “this is the empty holy land that everyone is fighting over?” and he answered that now that Israel is blossoming, there are those who wish to burn it down.

MK Eitan expressed government opposition to the bill. He defended the judges in Israel and said that there is no reason to interfere with their discretion. He denied a need to create a separation between nationalistic and criminal arsonists.

MK Katzeleh responded that a government that votes against this bill cannot call themselves a right-wing government.

The bill was defeated 8-42.

Motion/Amendment to the National Insurance Bill

MK Ghilon (Meretz) explained that his amendment would discontinue estate tax and entitle those who inherit their loved one’s money or belongings to do so without penalty. He stated that estate tax should not apply to those who have a will, and this bill will correct this tragedy.

Labor and Welfare Minister Herzog (Labor) expressed government opposition to the bill on the grounds that every western country has estate tax. He suggested that Ghilon turn the bill into a motion and discuss the subject in the committees.

MK Ghilon responded that a socialistic bill will always fall in a capitalistic government, but he felt that this was among the worst of this government’s decisions. He agreed to turn it into a motion.

The motion was passed 47-0 and was sent to the Labor Committee.

Amendment to the Traffic Ordinance Bill

MK Bielski (Kadima) explained that his amendment would require a minimum sentence for abandoning a person injured in an accident and the prohibition of accepting a plea bargain with the defendant for such an offense. He noted that Ministers Erdan and Simhon proposed similar bills in the past and are both now against their own bill. He blasted Judge Saliwan for sending a hit-and-run driver with an expired license who killed a 90-year-old woman to prison for only three years. He told another story of a hit-and-run driver who put a 12-year-old child in a coma, and the State accepted a plea bargain against the parents’ wishes. He listed countless other cases.

Coalition Chairman MK Elkin said that the government will agree to support the bill if Bielski withdraws it, agrees to merge his amendment with MK Matalon’s (Y.B.) from last week and waits until next week.

MK Bielski agreed.