September 2014 | Quality Report Headlines

For full report (in Hebrew) visit our Hebrew website: http://www.mqg.org.il

State comptroller report on nutritional assurance – six month ago the state comptroller issued a harsh report criticizing the government’s actions regarding poverty and nutritional assurance. 894 thousand Israelis, including 306 thousand children, have reported either not eating for a whole day or reducing the size of their meals for several months a year due to lack of money. The report indicates that the government has yet to define its policy in addressing these issues and has yet to assign funds. Six month after the report has been published, we addressed the Ministry of social affairs and social services and the Prime Minister’s office to find out whether teams were setup in order to examine the flaws, as required by law and have these teams’ resolutions were reported back to the state comptroller. We also asked for a copy of those teams’ reports, their resolutions and the deadlines assigned to each resolution.

The gas monopoly – A year has passed since the government has decided to export gas, and while gas companies rushed to sign agreements allowing them to sale the gas, the legislation processes – ensuring taxes will be paid for this enormous part of Israel’s natural resources – are only at their early stages. If legislation will not be soon completed, the financial loss for Israel’s citizens will be unimaginable. We addressed the Minister of finance demanding to expedite the legislation processes in order to prevent the financial loss.

The movement’s objection to the appointment of Oded Sarig to a senior position in “Migdal” – After Sarig was appointed to this senior position, MGQ addressed the Commissioner of the Capital Market, Insurance and Savings and to the Deputy Attorney General requesting them to stop this appointment. Sarig is the former Commissioner of Insurance and the objection is based on the fact that during his service he approved several requests for Shlomo Eliyahu, including approving a permit for control of an insurer for “Migdal”.

Cooling Period Bill – A new bill, formulated by the MGQ along with Knesset member Zehava Galon, calls for the extension of the cooling period between the time a public servant ends his public service and the time he begins his work at the private sector to 3 years, a significant extension to the one year period required by law today. The bill is intended to reduce the “Sliding Doors” effect in which public servants use their position as a stepping-stone for their jobs at the companies controlling the market, causing massive damage to the Israeli market and Israeli public as they go.

Leaks from the Security Cabinet meetings – A petition was filed by MGQ to the High-Court of Justice against the General Attorney requiring an investigation of the highly sensitive information leaked out of the Security Cabinet meetings during operation “Protection Edge”. MGQ states that such leaks, in the midst of the operation, which may endanger Israel’s security, risk Israel’s strategic interests and jeopardize the correctness of the decision making process, cannot be treated lightly.

MGQ’s objection to the “Merhav Hadolphinarium” plan – A dangerous underhanded opportunism was stopped when the Planning and Zoning Commission was about to discuss the plan without allowing organizations such as MGQ objects. After our request, the commission was forced to set another discussion in which objections will be heard. The objection, filed along with “Adam Teva V’din”, is based on the claim that this is a prolonged plan, full of flaws. The MGQ and “Adam Teva V’din” are objecting the programs for financial, legal and planning reasons, and are requesting the flaws will be amended before the plan is authorized.

A petition to the High-Court of Justice against the plea bargain with Rabbi Pinto – Following the outrageous plea bargain, which may possibly lead to the Rabbi not serving time in prison even if he is convicted in bribery, MGQ has petitioned to the High-Court of Justice requesting this deal – sending a very forgiving message in light of serious allegations – will be annulled.

Prolonging the suspension of Nazzareth Illit mayor – An important achievement is the Attorney General’s accepting of MGQ’s viewpoint. The Attorney General has requested the suspension committee to extend the next suspension period of Nazzareth Illit’s mayor Shimon Gapso, for the maximal period of one year, thus allowing the municipality to perform normally and stopping the wasting of public funds. The MGQ states that short suspension periods have caused more funds to be spent, lead to inefficiencies and impaired the mayor substitute’s ability to perform.

Addressing the members of the Nature Resources Committee: don’t cave in – MGQ, along with “Adam Teva V’din” have addressed the Nature Resources Committee and demanded its members not to withdraw from the interim conclusions and not to cave in to the high pressures and empty threats imposed on them by people of interest.

The light verdict for former mayor of Bat-Yam, Shlomo Lachiani – This light, outrageous plea bargain lead to many charges of serious offences such as bribery (which were included in the initial indictment), not to be cleared in court. It has also lead to a very light verdict. This is one of the most serious allegations a public servant may face during his service, so MGQ has addressed the Attorney General and the State Attorney demanding them to appeal to court and to request a penalty of one year in prison.

Following MGQ’s petition, a tender for the orthodox district manager in the Ministry of Education was cancelled – Following MGQ’s petition the tender was cancelled. The petition was filed since there was a serious suspicion that the tender was “fixed”, and no relevant requirements were set for such a high position. The court has decided that a new tender would be published, and this time it will include all relevant requirements.

No shortcuts in approving the “Ma’am Efes” plan – MGQ has addressed the Minister of Finance and the chairman of the Finance Committee demanding them not to go on with the plan before specifying its costs and financial implications for the Israeli public as required by the Law of Budget Foundations. The procedures for a plan with such high implications must not be shortened. Moreover, we addressed the Minister of Finance following this summer’s military operation, asking him to reconsider the plan, which is highly expensive and often criticized by economists.

Country’s Golden shares – After the Israeli government almost gave up its golden share in “Zim” (which would have lead to the loss of a highly important public asset), MGQ – in order to prevent similar cases – has addressed the Ministry of Justice and the Government Companies Authority requesting all information of companies that the government has kept a golden share in during the process of privatization.