The Knesset began its special session today by standing in silence in memory of the hundreds of victims murdered by Muslim terrorists in Russia and in Be'er Sheva last week. The chairman of the Likud Knesset faction, Gideon Saar, proposed the gesture, saying, "Our hearts go out to the Russian people, who are mourning children murdered in inhumane brutality. The mourning of the parents and families from Be'er Sheva is the same as the mourning of the parents and families from Beslan, and the struggle against international terrorism in all its forms is also common to both peoples."
The Knesset then approved the demotion of Tzachi HaNegbi from the position of Minister of Public Security to that of Minister Without Portfolio. HaNegbi agreed to suspend himself when Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz ordered the beginning of a police investigation into HaNegbi's political appointments. Today's decision will enable HaNegbi to both continue as a member of the Cabinet and return to his original position in three months' time if the police investigation turns up no evidence of criminal activity - or if they recommend an indictment, and the Attorney-General turns them down.
In the debate that preceded the vote, opposition MKs mocked the Likud for its many political appointments. Likud MK Roni Bar-On retaliated by listing a long series of political appointments made by Labor in the past, including in the Finance Ministry when it was headed by none other than Shimon Peres.
MK Ophir Pines (Labor) said that the "temporary suspension" of HaNegbi is not serious and is in fact an intimidation of the police detectives charged with investigating the case: "The investigators have been put on notice that HaNegbi will return. It's like he put a note on his door saying, 'I'll be right back.' The government should be charged with interfering in the police investigation."
Minister Gideon Ezra, who served as Minister Without Portfolio and now as Minister of Tourism, will now become the Acting Minister of Public Security. Ezra, a former Deputy Chief of the GSS, served in the past as Deputy Minister of Public Security. Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit will take Ezra's place as the liaison between the government and the Knesset.
The Knesset then approved the demotion of Tzachi HaNegbi from the position of Minister of Public Security to that of Minister Without Portfolio. HaNegbi agreed to suspend himself when Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz ordered the beginning of a police investigation into HaNegbi's political appointments. Today's decision will enable HaNegbi to both continue as a member of the Cabinet and return to his original position in three months' time if the police investigation turns up no evidence of criminal activity - or if they recommend an indictment, and the Attorney-General turns them down.
In the debate that preceded the vote, opposition MKs mocked the Likud for its many political appointments. Likud MK Roni Bar-On retaliated by listing a long series of political appointments made by Labor in the past, including in the Finance Ministry when it was headed by none other than Shimon Peres.
MK Ophir Pines (Labor) said that the "temporary suspension" of HaNegbi is not serious and is in fact an intimidation of the police detectives charged with investigating the case: "The investigators have been put on notice that HaNegbi will return. It's like he put a note on his door saying, 'I'll be right back.' The government should be charged with interfering in the police investigation."
Minister Gideon Ezra, who served as Minister Without Portfolio and now as Minister of Tourism, will now become the Acting Minister of Public Security. Ezra, a former Deputy Chief of the GSS, served in the past as Deputy Minister of Public Security. Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit will take Ezra's place as the liaison between the government and the Knesset.