Oren Hazan on Wednesday. Can no longer serve as our public representative
Photo: Motti Kimchi
Oren Hazan must vacate his Knesset seat
Op-ed: The applause with which the disgraced MK was greeted at the Likud Central Committee will be remembered as one of the most embarrassing moments in Israeli democracy, but the prime minister's silence over the affair is even worse.
The handshakes, the warm embraces and the pats on the back seeking to cheer up Knesset Member Oren Hazan
on Wednesday evening evoked feelings of despair and regret in me. The applause with which he was greeted at the Likud Central Committee will be remembered for eternity as one of the most embarrassing moments in Israeli democracy.
And after he gets in there, there is no way to get him out, even when it turns out that he has an embarrassing past behind him which places a moral doubt on his personality. And the majority? That same majority which democracy is based on is sometimes blind and stupid. It's sad that this is our democracy.
The horror show at the Likud Central Committee exposed democracy in all its weakness, naked and spineless. There is no way to filter the election of Knesset members and check if they are morally worthy of the important position. Each person, no matter how dubious his past is, can reach the desirable bureau, if he can only get the required votes in the primary elections.
Disgraced MK
Op-ed: It's unbelievable how easily people can make their way from casinos and brothels in Bulgaria into Israel's parliament and most important committees.
The Central Likud Committee's cheers are grave, but the silence blowing from the ruling party is even graver. Apart from Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, who rushed to prevent the disgrace of having Hazan chair the plenum discussions as deputy Knesset speaker, and apart from the brave voices of condemnation which came from Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely's office, the rest of the elected representatives chose to ignore the issue. Why get in trouble with the Central Committee members and with the party members? Minister Gila Gamliel took it even further by openly expressing her support for Hazan.
Hazan embraced by Likud Central Committee members. A horror show which exposed democracy in all its weakness, naked and spineless (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
The truth must be told: I also express support for Hazan in one of my articles. It was on the first days after he was elected, when gossip began circulating about the casino he managed in Bulgaria. I made it clear at the time that I am against any type of gambling, for ideological reasons, even gambling which has been authorized by the government like Mifal Hapais. But I am not against people. I was angry at the attacks on Hazan. Since the casino is legal in Bulgaria, I argued, Hazan should not be disqualified and the new MK should be given a chance to prove himself.
Now, after the serious evidence presented by Channel 2 correspondent Amit Segal about pimping and smoking hard drugs, Hazan should vacate his seat and allow other young people to prove themselves. Hazan went too fast from the casino and brother into Israel's parliament.
I don’t see this route as impossible, but there is one condition: Reform. Hazan is only worthy of staying on as an MK if he stopped to repent on his way from Bulgaria to the Knesset. Repentance, as Maimonides taught us, begins with an acknowledgement of the sin. Hazan is denying it and expressing no regret, and therefore he can no longer serve as our public representative.
This is a statement which should have been made in the clearest manner by Israel's prime minister. The Central Committee's embrace is grave, and the MKs' silence is even graver, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's deafening silence is ten times worse.
