Slippery Slope

MK Avigdor Lieberman (Likud-Beitenu) says that he will oppose any construction freeze in the West Bank. (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – Ynet)

The Jewish Home and Likud-Beitenu parties have committed in their coalition agreement to promote a basic law which would see Israel’s democratic character subservient to its Jewish character. According to the proposed bill, the state will invest resources in promoting the Jewish settlement within its borders but will not commit to build for other nationalities. The law, which was submitted in the past by MK Avi Dichter, is based on wording formulated by the Institute for Zionist Strategy. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The NGOs Adam, Teva v’Din and the Movement for the Quality of Government appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (HaLikud-Beitenu), requesting that he prevent the appointment of Hezi Tzaig, a former Likud activist, to the position of chairman of the plenum of the Nature and Parks Authority. According to the organizations, the appointment was made with improper procedure by outgoing Minister for Environmental Protection, Gilad Erdan (HaLikud-Beitenu), in the last days of the sitting government, and there is a fear it might be politically motivated.

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

In reply to three different queries Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein chose not to state his opinion on the propriety of saving the post of foreign minister for MK Avigdor Lieberman, who has been indicted and at present cannot serve as a minister.  Foreign ministry employees have testified against Lieberman.

The Ministry of Education has filed indictments against five couples, who are accused of violating the compulsory education law, because they chose to send their children to an Arab-Jewish Waldorf school which did not receive proper accreditation. It should be noted that the prosecution of parents whose children attend a school unrecognized by the Education Ministry is a fairly common occurrence. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Director-General of the Ministry of Transportation, Uzi Yizhaki, said that his ministry intends to expand the number of bus lines which are intended for the transport of Palestinians, adding two routes to the two already in place, one to the South Hebron Hills and one to Sha’ar Efraim.

(Hebrew – Walla!)

The finance and justice ministries are pushing for an amendment that could give the new government the ability to propose the budgets for the years 2013-2014 in one bill, with separate columns for each of the two years. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Police is investigating a suspicion that two candidates in the Labor party primaries were involved in buying votes from “voter contractors”. (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – Ynet)

Outgoing Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, has said that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Likud Beitenu), ”tried to push appointments through the Foreign Service. I succeeded in pushing back the pressure and convinced Lieberman that the appointments weren’t appropriate.” (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Minister of Justice Yaakov Ne’eman is establishing a public committee on judges misconduct. No women were proposed as committee members, failing to comply with High Court of Justice directions on equal representation.

(Hebrew)