Knesset Roundup | July 5

Expanding the Grounds for Disqualifying Prospective Members of Knesset

Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs

Sunday, 05/07/15 | Determining the Government’s Position

 
This bill seeks to expand the grounds in section 7A of the Basic Law, which sets out under what conditions a person can be disqualified from running as a candidate in Knesset elections.
 
ACRI’s Position: ACRI’s Position: This bill seeks to expand the basis for disqualifying prospective Knesset candidates on the grounds of their public statements. The proposal would transfer the burden of proof so that it falls to the candidate to prove that they do not support terror. Any person who participates in an activity against the IDF or publicly expresses support for an illegal or terrorist activity against Israel or Israeli citizens, shall be deemed to have acted to support an armed struggle against Israel so long as he/she can not prove otherwise.
 
In other words, this bill seeks to link candidates with terrorism on the basis of statements and actions that have no logical connection to their support or participation in an armed struggle. This would then disqualify them from running for Knesset in violation of the fundamental right to vote and be elected.

Transparency in the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs

Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs

Sunday, 28/06/15 | Determining the Government’s Position

This bill seeks to entrench a new policy that would require the Ministerial Committee to publish the minutes of its deliberations and detail the committee’s votes.
 
ACRI’s Position: ACRI’s Position: ACRI strongly supports this bill. The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs is the gateway portal for bills to be raised in the Knesset. The support of this vital committee usually ensures a Knesset majority for a particular bill, while its opposition typically means that a bill will fail. Despite the importance of this Committee, its deliberations and the voting decisions of participants remain confidential and are hidden from the public.
 
Increased transparency in the deliberations of this committee has great importance for the public’s right to be informed. Increased transparency will enable a deeper public debate about proposed legislation, will increase the accountability of ministers and Knesset members, and will strengthen free debate. The Public has a right to know the reasons why Knesset members object to or support the bills before them, and to understand the reasoning behind the government’s policy positions.

Payments for Damages Caused in the Holot Detention Facility

Internal Affairs and Environment Committee

Monday, 29/06/2015 | Approving Regulation

 
This regulation establishes the maximum amount that the director or deputy director of the Holot Detention Facility can charge an inmate for damage caused to the facility. The amount charged can be up to the amount of the damage caused, capped at an upper limit of NIS 2,336.
 
ACRI’s Position: This arrangement is analogous to the situation at other Israeli prisons. While the authorities continue to insist that Holot is not a prison, this regulation shows that the inmates are treated exactly the same as other “regular” prisoners.

Care of Children Lacking Family Support

Labor, Welfare and Health Committee

Wednesday, 01/07/2015 | Committee Discussion

 
Children without family support are defined as children for whom living in their parents’ house endangers their safety; whose family is dysfunctional; or who are orphans. This committee discussion focuses on the manner in which the authorities manage these cases, the situation of state children’s homes, the supervision of these homes, and the support available to children without family support and homeless youth.
 
ACRI’s Position: In this field, ACRI deals primarily with the activities of resolution committees that are tasked with the decision of whether to remove children from unsafe homes. Approximately one year ago, following the publication of the Silman Committee report that examined the issue, ACRI sent our comments and proposals to the Ministry of Social Affairs, which focused on the need to increase the transparency of this committee and improve due process protections in the committee’s procedures.

In the Spotlight:

Freedom of Art / Art of Freedom

 
In recent weeks there has been a heated debate in Israel regarding the question of free artistic expression. What is the relationship between state and the arts? Should there be limits to free speech in art? And if so, will art still remain the same?
 
In order to shed further light on this issue, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and the Goethe-Institut Israel are planning a series of discussions that will focus on emerging international patterns. For this event we are delighted to welcome renowned Russian journalist and playwright Michail Kaluzhski to analyze the situation in Russia.
 
Keynote Speaker: Michail Kaluzhski
Respondents: Attorney Tali Nir, Ben Dror-Yemini, Uri Rosenwaks
Moderator: Wolf Iro
 
For more information on the speakers, click here.
 
For more information on the event, contact the Goethe Institut Israel: +972 3-6060501/6/8