'Bishara Law' okayed for Knesset vote
Bill revoking wages, pension of lawmakers suspected of committing terror-related offenses and aiding enemy approved by House Committee following heated exchange of words between Arab, rightist MKs
The decision was made following a heated exchange of words between right-wing and Arab Knesset members.
The bill was named after former Knesset Member Azmi Bishara (Balad), who was questioned on suspicion of aiding Hezbollah but fled the country and continued to receive his pension from the Knesset. According to figures presented by the Knesset comptroller, Bishara has received more than NIS 500,000 ($138,000) from the State since fleeing Israel.
According to the the proposal, which was approved by the Knesset in a preliminary reading in July, former or current Knesset members, who failed to report to a police investigation or trial and are suspected of committing offenses bearing a prison term of at least five years, will no longer receive a salary or any other payment from the Knesset.
The new law will only refer to offenses committed during the MK's term. A decision to revoke the discussed payments requires an attorney general investigation and recommendation.
The bill's initiators explained that "the current situation creates a distortion, and therefore we must set a norm according to which public servants fulfill their duties in the framework of the law and subject to the law enforcement authorities. This is a reasonable move which any democracy which has to defend itself should take and serves as a clear statement by members of the Knesset."
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