After a tiring filibuster session ending after midnight, the Knesset approved Friday the Coalition government’s suggestion to split the Economics Arrangements Act and to move the remaining clauses to a deliberation in the Knesset plenums to prepare them for a second and third hearing. The clauses removed from the Economics Arrangements Law include a proposal to allow individuals to acquire land presently owned by the Jewish National Fund, changes in television legislation, and increasing competition between health maintenance organizations (“kupot cholim”).
The clauses remaining in the Economics Arrangements Act include the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions on produce and on purchases by tourists, such as hotel stays. Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov stated Thursday that his Yisrael Beiteinu party would oppose the legislation if the proposed law would remove VAT exemption for tourists.
Knesset Committee Chair Zev Elkin, who also chairs the Likud Party, told Voice of Israel government radio that the Coalition succeeded to remain united and to pass the law. However, several members of the Opposition “turned the serious discussion into a circus and embarrassed themselves and the Knesset Committee.” During the late night deliberation of privatizing State-owned land, a trio of Knesset members started singing “Our Land”. Ushers subsequently ousted them from the Knesset.
Kadima party officials responded, “Whoever continues to embarrass the Knesset is the wasteful and bloated government of Netanyahu, which is cynically legislating within a short time a scandalous Economics Arrangements Law.”
In an interview with Voice of Israel, MK Dov Schneller said that he was against the privatization of Israeli land. He said, “The land doesn’t belong to you or me. It’s impossible to sell land that belongs to the nation.”