* The Knesset Law Committee unanimously approved today an amendment to the Election Law regarding polls and surveys. As of the next national election, the last day for the publication of pre-election polls will be on the Friday preceding the election - which is generally held on a Tuesday. The change was initiated by an across-the-spectrum alliance of MKs Yitzchak Levy (National Union), Ran Cohen (Meretz), Collete Avital (Labor) and Yoel Hason (Kadima).
Until now, public opinion surveys could be published up to a day before the election. Some MKs had proposed banning them for a full two or three weeks before the election, as it is feared that public opinion is more often formed than reflected by the polls.
* Knesset Education Committee head Rabbi Michael Melchior (Labor-Meimad) proposed today that the legal age for marriage be raised from 17 to 18. His bill lists several objections to the current situation. For instance, he claims it is illogical to allow marriage and possible pregnancy to one who, before age 18, must still receive parental permission for certain medical treatments.
Rabbi Melchior further states that in many European countries, the minimum age for marriage is 18. In addition, marriage at a young age precludes one from exercising his or her full rights to a complete education, Melchior states.
* The Knesset Education Committee voted down, by an 8-2 margin, Education Minister Yuli Tamir's proposal to demarcate the Green Line border between Judea/Samaria/Golan and the rest of Israel in text books. However, Tamir - a founder of Peace Now - insists that she will implement her idea. Committee member MK Zevulun Orlev, a former Education Ministry Director-General, said Tamir should be fired if she ignores the Committee vote. He noted that the Government of Israel, shortly after the 1967 Six Day War, determined that the Green Line would not be noted on textbook maps.
* An outside commission appointed by President Moshe Katzav has completed a proposal calling for district elections for half of the Knesset's 120 legislators. At present, all 120 are elected in a nation-wide vote. The new plan, which delineates 17 districts for the 60 "local" MKs, will be presented Monday night to Katzav.
Until now, public opinion surveys could be published up to a day before the election. Some MKs had proposed banning them for a full two or three weeks before the election, as it is feared that public opinion is more often formed than reflected by the polls.
* Knesset Education Committee head Rabbi Michael Melchior (Labor-Meimad) proposed today that the legal age for marriage be raised from 17 to 18. His bill lists several objections to the current situation. For instance, he claims it is illogical to allow marriage and possible pregnancy to one who, before age 18, must still receive parental permission for certain medical treatments.
Rabbi Melchior further states that in many European countries, the minimum age for marriage is 18. In addition, marriage at a young age precludes one from exercising his or her full rights to a complete education, Melchior states.
* The Knesset Education Committee voted down, by an 8-2 margin, Education Minister Yuli Tamir's proposal to demarcate the Green Line border between Judea/Samaria/Golan and the rest of Israel in text books. However, Tamir - a founder of Peace Now - insists that she will implement her idea. Committee member MK Zevulun Orlev, a former Education Ministry Director-General, said Tamir should be fired if she ignores the Committee vote. He noted that the Government of Israel, shortly after the 1967 Six Day War, determined that the Green Line would not be noted on textbook maps.
* An outside commission appointed by President Moshe Katzav has completed a proposal calling for district elections for half of the Knesset's 120 legislators. At present, all 120 are elected in a nation-wide vote. The new plan, which delineates 17 districts for the 60 "local" MKs, will be presented Monday night to Katzav.