Is MK Amsalem in violation of Knesset statutes?
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
Hasson alleges recommendation bill's transfer violates statutes
MK Hasson alleges Knesset House C'tee's decision to transfer bill barring police from recommending indictments at investigations' conclusion to MK Amsalem's own c'tee violates Knesset statutes explicitly forbidding c'tee chaired by bill's originator to prepare bill for first reading.
Chairman of the Zionist Union parliamentary group MK Yoel Hasson contacted Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and Knesset legal adviser attorney Eyal Yinon Wednesday to caution them that transferring the "recommendations bill" barring police from recommending indictments when concluding investigations to the parliament's Internal Affairs Committee constitutes a violation of Knesset statues.
Hasson contacted the Israeli parliament's speaker and legal adviser following the Knesset's House Committee's decision Wednesday to approve transferring the bill, originated MK David Amsalem (Likud), to the Internal Affairs Committee, chaired by Amsalem himself.
MK Hasson (R) claimed transferring recommendations bill to Amsalem's own committee violated Knesset statutes
"Beyond the putrid stench emanating from his transfer, it's also a blatant violation of Knesset statutes that determine one of the house's committees will not prepare a bill for a first reading if it is chaired by one of the bill's originators, so long as a privately-sponsored bill resides on the committee's docket that was approved in a preliminary hearing and six months have elapsed from the day the other bill was forwarded to the committee or the day it was last discussed by it, unless the bill's originator sought to postpone discussion of his bill," Hasson explained at length.
"I regret the fact MK Amsalem is unaware of Knesset statues and has once again succeeded in debasing this parliament. While he's blocking several important bills, he's trying to fast-track his own bill through his own committee despite the fact the bill deals with nothing under the purview of the Internal Affairs Committee. Everything to save the prime minister from mounting investigations," Hasson chastised.
The recommendations bill was approved at the Knesset's plenum last week with a majority of 52 MKs in favor and 42 objecting. MK Rachel Azaria (Kulanu) of the coalition objected. The coalition parties agreed the law will only be prepared for further readings with the approval of Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan.
