MK Eli Gabbai (National Religious Party) proposes legislation that would erase nearly all criminal files issued to protestors of the Disengagement/expulsion plan in 2005.
Gabbai proposes that the change be made as an amendment to the existing Disengagement law, in accordance with the recommendation of the Knesset's legal advisors. Gabbai was not a Knesset Member during the Disengagement, which took place in the summer of 2005. The added clause would read: "If a person was convicted of a violation stemming from opposition to the Disengagement plan, the conviction shall be erased from the criminal registry, if the violation did not involve a genuine threat to life."
Hundreds of youths were arrested during the course of 2005 for road-blockings and other anti-expulsion protest activities. For almost of all of those who were convicted it was their first and only criminal listing.
"The importance of the Land of Israel for these people," Gabbai said, "is very great, and therefore they acted in an extreme manner on its behalf. Many of those who were charged are youths who are about to enlist in the army, and a criminal file could harm their enlistment and could leave a significant stain that will have a negative influence on their future."
"A democratic state allows its citizens to express their opinions by demonstrating," Gabbai further explained. "The approach to disturbances toward this end [must be] lenient, in the knowledge that the issue for which this sector is struggling is very close to its heart."
"The Disengagement plan left a deep gash torn in the nation as well as a crisis of confidence, and therefore it is important to try to mend the rips and to appease the various extremes. In light of the special circumstance, it would be appropriate to show consideration of these citizens and erase their criminal files."
A similar proposal was made by MK Uri Ariel (National Union) several months ago. His spokesman told Arutz-7 that an arrangement was reached at the time with the State Prosecution regarding youths aged 16-18 and enabling them to be drafted into the IDF without problems.
MK Gabbai's proposal passed the Legal Office of the Knesset yesterday, and will be presented for a preliminary reading in the Knesset in 45 days. Gabbai's aide Rachel Bitan told Arutz-7 that the bill faces an uphill struggle in the Knesset, and that "several months of struggle await us."
Other Gush Katif news:
* Amendments to the existing Evacuation/Compensation Law for expelled residents of Gush Katif and northern Shomron will cost between 1 and 2 billion shekels - but it could be that instead of legislating the changes into law, the Prime Minister's Bureau will simply agree to change the regulations on its own. Contacts to this end have been taking place between representatives of Prime Minister Olmert, the sponsoring MKs - Uri Ariel (National Union) and Avigdor Yitzchaki (Kadima) - and Gush Katif leaders.
* Though it has long been a matter of consensus that new communities must be formed for the expelled residents of Gush Katif, environmentalists are continuing their struggle to make sure this does not happen. Representatives of the National Parks Authority and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel are touring the Lachish area today (Tuesday), where five new Jewish towns are planned to be established in place of those that were destroyed in Gush Katif. The environmentalists say that the Lachish area was declared a decade ago a "biospheric expanse."
Gabbai proposes that the change be made as an amendment to the existing Disengagement law, in accordance with the recommendation of the Knesset's legal advisors. Gabbai was not a Knesset Member during the Disengagement, which took place in the summer of 2005. The added clause would read: "If a person was convicted of a violation stemming from opposition to the Disengagement plan, the conviction shall be erased from the criminal registry, if the violation did not involve a genuine threat to life."
Hundreds of youths were arrested during the course of 2005 for road-blockings and other anti-expulsion protest activities. For almost of all of those who were convicted it was their first and only criminal listing.
"The importance of the Land of Israel for these people," Gabbai said, "is very great, and therefore they acted in an extreme manner on its behalf. Many of those who were charged are youths who are about to enlist in the army, and a criminal file could harm their enlistment and could leave a significant stain that will have a negative influence on their future."
"A democratic state allows its citizens to express their opinions by demonstrating," Gabbai further explained. "The approach to disturbances toward this end [must be] lenient, in the knowledge that the issue for which this sector is struggling is very close to its heart."
"The Disengagement plan left a deep gash torn in the nation as well as a crisis of confidence, and therefore it is important to try to mend the rips and to appease the various extremes. In light of the special circumstance, it would be appropriate to show consideration of these citizens and erase their criminal files."
A similar proposal was made by MK Uri Ariel (National Union) several months ago. His spokesman told Arutz-7 that an arrangement was reached at the time with the State Prosecution regarding youths aged 16-18 and enabling them to be drafted into the IDF without problems.
MK Gabbai's proposal passed the Legal Office of the Knesset yesterday, and will be presented for a preliminary reading in the Knesset in 45 days. Gabbai's aide Rachel Bitan told Arutz-7 that the bill faces an uphill struggle in the Knesset, and that "several months of struggle await us."
Other Gush Katif news:
* Amendments to the existing Evacuation/Compensation Law for expelled residents of Gush Katif and northern Shomron will cost between 1 and 2 billion shekels - but it could be that instead of legislating the changes into law, the Prime Minister's Bureau will simply agree to change the regulations on its own. Contacts to this end have been taking place between representatives of Prime Minister Olmert, the sponsoring MKs - Uri Ariel (National Union) and Avigdor Yitzchaki (Kadima) - and Gush Katif leaders.
* Though it has long been a matter of consensus that new communities must be formed for the expelled residents of Gush Katif, environmentalists are continuing their struggle to make sure this does not happen. Representatives of the National Parks Authority and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel are touring the Lachish area today (Tuesday), where five new Jewish towns are planned to be established in place of those that were destroyed in Gush Katif. The environmentalists say that the Lachish area was declared a decade ago a "biospheric expanse."