A problematic tsunami
A tsunami of problematic legislation is flooding the Knesset, awaiting the decisions of lawmakers. Each bill deserves to be evaluated on its own merits. Here is how the changing democratic map looks in light of these bills, which are sponsored by the governing coalition:
It is true that there is a certain conflict of interest in the financial support provided by various foreign governments to organizations active in the political and diplomatic arena such as Peace Now, B'Tselem and Adallah, all of which are legitimate movements. This represents the involvement of foreign governments in another state's matters.
David Cameron from 10 Downing Street in London would react harshly if our government donated to an organization calling to vote for Blair instead of the Conservatives. There is a difference between a donation to B'Tselem by a private person or a nongovernmental organization and the channeling of a government's money to such an organization.
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Still, the bills approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation are unwise. At issue are some of the friendliest governments to Israel, perhaps the last of our sympathizers. These are the same governments that foiled the acceptance of "Palestine" to the U.N., and the first expression of thanks by Israel is to provoke them over a triviality.
As an expression of integrity, National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror warned that the proposed legislation would harm Israel's image as a democracy. Are we beginning to resemble Zimbabwe, as Benny Begin suggested?
What is more, these moves will not work. Nicolas Sarkozy and Cameron know how to transfer funds to charitable foundations in their own countries, and from there to the bank accounts of B'Tselem and Peace Now. Also, if this were a proper procedure, and not a matter of the coalition harassing these organizations, the government would have recruited a parliamentary majority for the law, but given the organizations that receive funds from foreign governments a period of four years to adjust to the new situation.
A black cloud hangs over our democracy due to the law according to which MK Yariv Levin would conduct hearings to vet candidates to the Supreme Court. The law has been put off, for the moment. But Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to send it to its proper place - the refuse bin of deviant legislation. Simply delaying the bill casts a shadow over Israeli democracy.
Yaakov Neeman wants to ensure himself a majority on the Judicial Selection Committee. For this reason, he seeks legal changes that would alter the makeup of the Bar Association's representation on the committee. In his enthusiasm, he even "stung" Dan Meridor with a trick that prevented a decision on an appeal in the full cabinet. The crux of the matter is that respectable governments do not change the law for such a specific matter.
When it was suggested to former Supreme Court Chief Justices Meir Shamgar and Prof. Aharon Barak that the retirement age of a chief justice be extended to age 75, they did not reject the idea, but determined that the change would not go into affect on their watch, only after their terms. That is how a respectable official acts.
Neeman wants to change the composition of the Bar Association's representation on the committee? Go right ahead. But the law should go into effect only after the next elections to the Knesset and to the Bar Association's institutions - not ahead of the upcoming appointment of Supreme Court judges to the bench.
The government seeks to intimidate investigative journalists by raising the fine on publications which were inaccurate but did not cause anyone harm. For example, if someone writes that MK Levin is an upholsterer, and not an attorney, he will be fined hundreds of thousands of shekels.
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