Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had been deliberating between two choices for the coveted post: Kadima MK David Tal, formerly of the Shas, One Nation and Labor parties, and Ben-Sasson. They are both on the 4-member group of religious Kadima MKs. Olmert's decision to name Ben-Sasson was announced today.
The Knesset Law Committee will convene for the first time under Ben-Sasson's chairmanship tomorrow.
Prof. Ben-Sasson, 55, received his doctorate from the Hebrew University in 1984, and was appointed as Professor in 1996. From 1997 through 2001, he was the University's rector, headed the Ben Tzvi Institute in Jerusalem from 2004-2006, and is the President of the World Union of Jewish Studies. He specialized in Medieval Ages Jewish History in Moslem Lands, the Cairo Genizah, and the influence of Maimonides and his students on medieval period Jewry in the east.
Ben-Sasson entered politics when he joined Ariel Sharon's newly-formed Kadima Party several months ago. He is married to the daughter of the late head of the National Religious Party, Yosef Burg, and the sister of former Labor MK and Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg.
He suffered an embarrassing political moment when he responded to perceived racist remarks by MK Avigdor Lieberman by proposing that Lieberman not be allowed to speak in the Knesset. Lieberman had said earlier this month, during the swearing-in of the new government, "At the end of World War II, not only the convicted criminals were executed at the Nirenberg Trials, but also their accomplices. I hope that this will be the fate of the collaborators in this house as well... There are terrorism laws, according to which all those who collaborate with terrorism must also be put to trial."
Ben-Sasson, sitting in the Knesset committee deciding on Knesset procedures the following week, proposed that Lieberman not be allowed to speak and raise his party's no-confidence motion in the government. Many of the other MKs in the committee laughed aloud at the idea, which was unanimously rejected. MK Ruby Rivlin, the previous Knesset Speaker, said, "This is truly a novel idea: the coalition proposes to nullify the opposition."
The Knesset Law Committee will convene for the first time under Ben-Sasson's chairmanship tomorrow.
Prof. Ben-Sasson, 55, received his doctorate from the Hebrew University in 1984, and was appointed as Professor in 1996. From 1997 through 2001, he was the University's rector, headed the Ben Tzvi Institute in Jerusalem from 2004-2006, and is the President of the World Union of Jewish Studies. He specialized in Medieval Ages Jewish History in Moslem Lands, the Cairo Genizah, and the influence of Maimonides and his students on medieval period Jewry in the east.
Ben-Sasson entered politics when he joined Ariel Sharon's newly-formed Kadima Party several months ago. He is married to the daughter of the late head of the National Religious Party, Yosef Burg, and the sister of former Labor MK and Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg.
He suffered an embarrassing political moment when he responded to perceived racist remarks by MK Avigdor Lieberman by proposing that Lieberman not be allowed to speak in the Knesset. Lieberman had said earlier this month, during the swearing-in of the new government, "At the end of World War II, not only the convicted criminals were executed at the Nirenberg Trials, but also their accomplices. I hope that this will be the fate of the collaborators in this house as well... There are terrorism laws, according to which all those who collaborate with terrorism must also be put to trial."
Ben-Sasson, sitting in the Knesset committee deciding on Knesset procedures the following week, proposed that Lieberman not be allowed to speak and raise his party's no-confidence motion in the government. Many of the other MKs in the committee laughed aloud at the idea, which was unanimously rejected. MK Ruby Rivlin, the previous Knesset Speaker, said, "This is truly a novel idea: the coalition proposes to nullify the opposition."