'Azmi Bishara law' passes in Knesset first reading
Law stating that State of Israel will withhold salary and pension payments and any other payments to Knesset members suspected or convicted of terror passes with coalition majority. MK Zoabi once again in firing line during stormy discussions
The bill is named after the former chairman of the Balad party – Azmi Bishara who is under investigation for suspicions of aiding Hezbollah and who has escaped the country yet still receives his Knesset pension.
His replacement as party chairman, MK Jamal Zahalka charged that "this is a personal law, a thing that is illegitimate; it hurts the individual's pension, i.e. the property rights. Bishara is in exile standing up for the rights of his people".
His colleague and party member MK Hanin Zoabi, who has already faced accusations from right wing members after taking part in the Gaza flotilla, addressed the issue at hand and aroused angry responses. "You can interfere between political loyalty to civic loyalty, and you can change laws from tools to regularize society to regulations to punish the individual".
In response, MK Miri Regev (Likud) answered Zoabi in the same manner she used after the Gaza flotilla: "Go to Gaza you traitor". Referring to the issue at hand Regev said: "This isn't about a marginal phenomenon.
"Bishara is travelling on the axis of evil between Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, he gives them instructions on how to attack us with missiles – and we need to pay him money. There is no country in the world that pays traitors a salary. Our work will not be done until the traitor who took part in the Gaza flotilla isn't here."
In a harsh personal address aimed at Zoabi, Regev said: "You take advantage of all the privileges we give you". When she received a scornful look from Zoabi, Regev stressed: "We will remove your immunity and you will sit here no longer".
Over NIS 500,000 to Bishara
During the plenum discussions, MK Israel Hasson (Kadima), who is among the bill's initiators, stated that: "I am ashamed that I didn't bring this bill forward three years ago. I am ashamed that this building was partner to carrying out actions that any citizen in the country should condemn.
"Today it is Azmi's name that is leading the bill, but it is the principle that is important. We need a tool that will enable us to put a stop to this. It is inconceivable that this loophole exists in Israel's Knesset."
Data presented by the Knesset's comptroller pointed to the fact that since his escape from Israel, Bishara has received over NIS 500,000 from the State's purse. The bill determines that the divestment of salary and pension payments will apply to any MK suspected of or convicted of a crime which carries a punishment of a five year prison term or longer, who has not reported to his investigation, trial or sentence.
The bill's commentary notes that "the situation today creates a distortion, and so a norm where public servants fill their duties within the law, subject to law enforcement authorities must be set. Sanctions must be taken against every person, without religious racial and sexual or national discrimination who is suspected of breaking the law – and who does not present himself to law enforcement authorities.
This is a reasonable step that any defensive democracy must and should take, and constitutes a clear statement to the members of the house."
Meanwhile, left-winger and Meretz party chairman Chaim Oron stood out for saying: "A rapist, a murderer of children and thieves don't get their pensions taken away. Of all the injustices in the world, the harshest must be the one carried out by Azmi Bishara? This bill crosses a line."
Oron explained that in his eyes, "It hasn't been proven that he (Bishara) harmed Israel's security, a bill is being passed here that harms his and his children's rights. We are on a slippery slope that we must not go on. One step I don't want to take is taking away a man's pension."
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