Tag Archive for Knesset

Netanyahu to present UAE, Bahrain peace deal to Knesset after ceremony

The Israeli Parliament [Knesset] will only get to debate the historic treaties with both Persian Gulf states next week, with speculation heightening as PM Netanyahu hints more sheikdoms are in line to follow suit.

By Ariel Kahana

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to present the Knesset with the historic peace treaties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the signing ceremony for which is slated to be held in Washington on Tuesday.

The two Persian Gulf states will thus become the third and fourth Arab nations to sign peace deals with the Jewish states, following Egypt and Jordan, which did so in 1979 and 1994, respectively. Continue Reading »

Legalization of ‘recreational’ marijuana  passes first hurdle in Israel

The bill, allowing for possession of up to 50 grams for personal use and up to 2 marijuana plants growing under natural light in a private place, also for personal use, would no longer be a crime.

By GIL HOFFMAN

 

The Ministerial Committee on Legislation decided on Sunday to advance two separate bills that would legalize cannabis, guaranteeing the coalition’s support for them in the Knesset.

The bills were submitted by Likud MK Sharren Haskel and Blue and White MK Ram Shefa. Haskel said she has fought for the bill for five years but her persistence on behalf of what she said are more than a million cannabis users paid off. Continue Reading »

Prostitution in Israel is legal, but solicitation of sexual act is no longer

Israel’s Knesset passes law aimed at fighting solicitation of prostitution with first-time offenders set to pay a ₪2,000 ($535) fine, and with maximum fine of ₪75,300 ($20,000) for repeat offenders.
• Justice Minister Shaked: ‘Solicitation is a morally unacceptable act; a woman’s body is not an object to be given to the highest bidder.’

By Gideon Allon

 

The Knesset on Monday voted unanimously to ban the solicitation of sexual services in Israel.

According to the law, individuals who solicit or attempt to solicit sexual acts will face a 2,000 shekel ($535) fine. A second offense will be punishable by a NIS 4,000 ($1,070) fine and the prosecution will have the authority to file an indictment against the solicitor. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Knesset approves cannabis export

Medical cannabis stocks reaps windfall at Tel Aviv Stock Exchange as the reform, meant to allow the export of medical marijuana farmed & processed in Israel, was passed with the intention of infusing up to $1 billion annually into state coffers.

By Calcalist

 

The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, on Tuesday approved a reform that would allow the export of medical cannabis farmed and processed in the country. In total, 21 MKs voted for the law, which passed unopposed. The implementation of the reform, in the works since 2016, is still pending a final vote by ministers.

The reform is forecasted to bring the country anywhere between $70 million and $1 billion a year. Continue Reading »

Israel Knesset disqualifies early parole for convicted terrorists

Security prisoners convicted of murder or accessory to murder who have served 2/3 of their sentences will no longer be eligible for parole under new law passed Tuesday that prevents their early release.

By Ariel Kahana and Gideon Allon

 

The Knesset on Tuesday enacted a law preventing the early release of security prisoners found guilty of murder or accessory to murder under the 2016 Anti-Terrorism Law.

According to the new law, sponsored by Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer and Likud MK Anat Berko, prisoners convicted of murder or accessory to murder will no longer have the possibility of having their sentences shortened. Continue Reading »

Amid IDF impasse, Netanyahu coalition calls to dissolve Knesset, call for elections

As Lapid backtracks on past support “in petty politics at the expense of the IDF and Israeli public” in a last-ditch effort to exploit the ultra-Orthodox draft impasse, Netanyahu’s gov’t decides to dissolve the parliament and call for early elections.

By i24NEWS

 

An emergency meeting of the heads of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition partners on Monday in a last-ditch effort to resolve an impasse over contentious legislation regulating military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews ended in a decision to dissolve parliament and call early elections.

The meeting, which got underway shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, was called a day before Israel’s parliament was due to begin preparing a bill on the contentious issue for its final readings with less than a month left to pass a law on the matter under a Supreme Court-imposed deadline. Continue Reading »

Israel passes law that deducts funds to PA equal to ‘Pay to Slay’ pensions

Israel’s Knesset [parliament] passes long debated law that will permit deduction of funds from tax revenues it transfers to the Palestinian Authority, equal to PA’s ‘terror payments’ annual budget.

By i24NEWS

 

The Israeli parliament on Monday passed a law that will slash tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority (PA) unless welfare payments to convicted terrorists and their families are stopped.

First mooted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu two years ago, it sailed through the Knesset with 87 votes in favor and just 15 against.

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jail, all paid generous monthly stipends by the PA.  – Palestinian propaganda blog

Israel collects tax from Palestinians in the West Bank and then transfers the funds to the PA. Continue Reading »

Israel’s anti-PA, Pay-to-Slay bill goes to final vote in Knesset

Israel’s Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee votes on a bill meant to discourage Abbas’ Palestinian Authority from continuing to reward terrorists with pensions.
– Defense Committee chairman Avi Dichter, “Israel will no longer be a pipeline for transferring money to terrorists.”

BY LAHAV HARKOV

 

A bill meant to discourage the Palestinian Authority from continuing to pay terrorists can go to a final vote, after the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee authorized it on Monday.

The legislation requires the government to deduct the amount that the Palestinian Authority pays terrorists from the taxes and tariffs Israel collects for the PA, and is backed by MKs from the coalition and much of the opposition. Continue Reading »

Israel moves to acknowledge Armenian Genocide by the Turks

Similar motions to recognize the Armenian Genocide have been put to the Knesset for a vote, but unlike in the past when the gov’t required the coalition to vote against it out of concern for relations with Turkey, this time, Netanyahu’s gov’t did not respond to the motion.

BY LAHAV HARKOV

 

The Knesset will hold a vote on whether to recognize the Armenian Genocide, after approving Meretz chairwoman Tamar Zandberg’s motion for the agenda on the subject Wednesday.

Tamar Zandberg is a Knesset Member and chairwoman of Meretz – Photo: Mr. Kate, Wikimedia

“This is our moral and historic obligation,” Zandberg said. Continue Reading »

Israel passes law allowing PM & Defense Minister to declare war

As Israel’s Knesset begins its summer session, propose law spearheaded by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Avi Dichter passes, 62 MKs to 41, permitting only the PM & DM to give green light in declaration of war.
• Justice Minister Shaked, “We must adapt ourselves to the present state security requirements.”
• Joint List MK Aida Touma-Suleiman, “The bill will enable two people to take not only the State of Israel into war, but all the countries in the region.”

By Moran Azulay and Shahar Hay

 

The Knesset passed a law Monday evening that will transfer authority from the government to the cabinet—and in some case to the prime minister and defense minister only—to declare war and to launch military operations. Continue Reading »

Superman to fly to Israel for Knesset visit

Superman actor of the 1990s, Dean Cain, may save the day this Wednesday when he’ll attend a Knesset event saluting Israel at the invitation of his friend, Zionist Union MK Hilik Bar.

By Amihai Attali

 

With the recent crisis surrounding the IDF draft bill, the Knesset seems in dire need of a superhero. This coming Wednesday, it seems, the Israeli parliament will get one.

Actor Dean Cain, world renowned for portraying the Man of Steel, Superman, in the seminal nineties television series Lois and Clark, will visit the Knesset Wednesday to express his support of Israel in a conference organized by Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Hilik Bar. Continue Reading »

Israel passes first hurdle in Knesset to legalize cannabis

Israel’s Minister of Public Security is spearheading effort to end criminal proceeding for the use of marijuana in private. With the bill having passed unanimously in its first reading in the Knesset, it’s highly likely, average citizens caught with grass will no longer be stigmatized as criminals.

By SHOSHANA KRANISH

 

A bill that would legalize the use of cannabis passed unanimously in its first reading in the Knesset on Wednesday.

Currently, the law prohibits the usage of cannabis.

The new bill focuses on public enforcement: those caught with cannabis in public are subject to various fines: on the first offense, 1000 NIS and 2000 NIS for the second offense. Continue Reading »

PA demands bodies of 5 Hamas terrorists recovered from terror tunnel be returned

Abbas’ PA government decries holding the bodies of the 5 dead terrorists is part Israel’s collective punishment policy “against the Palestinian people and the families of the shaheedim [Muslim martyrs]” and a “violation of all international humanitarian and moral laws.”

By Mordechai Sones

 

The Palestinian Authority blasted Israel after the Knesset gave preliminary approval to a bill which would allow the IDF and Israel Police to hold the remains of Arab terrorists indefinitely, circumventing a Supreme Court ruling.

The bill was submitted by MK Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home), and is similar to a proposal by MK Anat Berko (Likud). Continue Reading »

Israel’s Culture Minister says to MK Zoabi (in Arabic): “Go to Gaza, traitor!”

Israel’s Culture Minister Miri Regev, Likud MK Hazan clash with Arab parliamentarian after she accuses opposition of hypocrisy over its failure to stand up against racism.
– Knesset Member Hazan to Zoabi, “You should go to prison and sit behind bars.” 

By Moran Azulay

 

Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi of the Arab Joint List was slammed Wednesday by Culture Minister Miri Regev and Knesset Member Oren Hazan of the Likud party after accusing the opposition of hypocrisy over its failure to stand up against racism as it does against corruption issues.

Minister Miri Regev (R), MK Hanin Zoabi (C), MK Oren Hazan (L) – Photos: knesset.gov.il

Continue Reading »

Israel’s Def. Minister & Yisrael Beytenu head Lieberman advances death penalty for terrorists

Israel’s Defense Minister, “Every additional terrorist who enters prison alive creates an incentive for more attacks. To all those who claim the death penalty is unacceptable, I would like to remind you that a Boston court sentenced to death a terrorist who carried out an attack,” calling Massachusetts “the most liberal state” in the U.S.

By Gideon Allon

 

The Israel Beytenu faction on Wednesday will present a bill that would apply the death penalty to terrorists convicted of murder to the Knesset plenum for a preliminary hearing.

The Knesset, located in Jerusalem, Capital of Israel – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

At a faction meeting on Monday, Defense Minister and Israel Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman said, “Every additional terrorist who enters prison alive creates an incentive for more attacks. Continue Reading »