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Katsav may lose all benefits but pension
Knesset Finance Committee decides to revoke benefits from ex PMs and presidents who committed offenses that carry moral turpitude
Zvi Lavi
The Knesset Finance Committee unanimously decided Monday to revoke all benefits given to former presidents and prime ministers convicted of an offense that carries moral turpitude, but agreed not to touch their pensions.
The proposal was submitted by Meretz MK Chaim Oron.
The benefits in question for ex-presidents include an official residency in Jerusalem for seven years after the president's tenure has ended, or funding of the expenses of his private home for the same period of time, as well as an office, two personal assistants and a car with a chauffeur during these seven years. All the benefits are tax free.
The committee decided not to revoke the former presidents and PMs' pension, health benefits and reimbursement for cell phone expenses.
The committee held its meeting on the proposal despite Katsav's lawyers' request to postpone it until after the end of legal proceedings against him.
In a discussion held on the issue last week, committee member MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud) said that it was "inconceivable that a state that convicted one of its officials would also provide him with an apartment, a car and an office free of tax. This is the Knesset's stance regarding elected officials who failed in their mission."
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