March 2014 | Quality Report Headlines

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

After a Decade: The Supreme Court ruled in the case of the “Salt lands” – After a decade of struggle, The Israel Land Council and The Israel Land Authority were forced to null and void their agreement with the salt companies and reach a decision that reflects clear and direct conduct. This decision could affect the authority’s entire land policy in future transactions, based on solid deserve.

The Shaked Bill – Following the Conscription legislation, The Movement for Quality Government petitioned the Supreme Court to issue a conditional order, a declaratory order and an interim order, claiming that the law is unequal and should be abolished. This Government, which set forth over a year ago with many promises and an historical opportunity on the subject of equality in conscription, has given us the Shaked Bill – The Law for Equality in Sharing the Burden. This name was chosen for one of the most unequal bills passed in the country’s history. This bill tramples upon the basic rights of millions of Israelis and perpetuates the inequality, rather than permanently solving one the most painful issues in the annals of the State of Israel.

MQG’s response to the signing of the plea bargain with Shula Zaken – We applaud the prosecution’s change of position. This is contrary to what they initially claimed in light of MQG’s petition that at this stage it is impossible to bring forth new evidence, that Mrs. Zaken gave insufficient evidence and that her current version does not match her previous versions. A plea bargain agreement was ultimately signed by the prosecution and they resumed their investigation against Olmert with full force. MQG expresses satisfaction that although the petition was not accepted – its goals were ultimately achieved.

A City Council member accused of criminal activity shall not be involved in financial matters – Following MQG’s petition to the court to terminate City Council member Abu Leil’s term of office, following the severe indictment filed against him for fraud crimes, The President of the Court accepted MQG’s position and ruled that a Council member who is has been indicted with a criminal offence must not be allowed to engage in financial matters.

MQG’s petition – The Knesset must immediately appoint a permanent chairman to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee – MQG appealed to the Supreme Court against the Knesset’s House Committee, the Committee’s Chairman, The Foreign Affairs and Security Committee and against The Knesset and to issue a conditional order to address why they will not invoke their authority and appoint a permanent chairman to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. In addition, an interim order was requested to prevent any further proceedings related to the appointment of a chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence.

The return to office of Hod Hasharon’s Mayor after declaring being incapable to serve – Following the mayor’s announcement to retract his declare of incapacitation and return to office, MQG requested that the Attorney General call as soon as possible for examining his continued tenure as mayor. “The conduct of Mr. Rochberger scorns the rule of law and fatally violates the public’s confidence in the integrity of the government in general and of local government in particular.” This according to the petition filed.

“Talmud Torah” Institutions: Changes in legislation and in governmental regulation – Following the petition by MQG regarding the lack of governmental supervision over institutions of “Talmud Torah”, an amendment was made to the Compulsory Education Law. This is in addition to requiring the payment of 15,000 NIS for covering MQG’s legal expenses.

Agreement of an external consultant to the mayor of Upper Nazareth – The Nazareth District Court accepted the argument made by MQG. The court ruled that “The municipality’s decision to approve hiring an outside consultant to the mayor and to the municipality itself, based on an undetailed price quota that does not distinguish between the fields of operation and does not adequately explain the quality of service.” The ruling followed MQG’s petition addressing concerns arising of unlawful behavior by The Municipality of Nazareth in appointing consultants and personal assistants for the mayor.

Publicizing names of elected officials who have not yet filed declarations of wealth as required by law – MQG petitioned the court to require The Interior Ministry to publicize the names of public officials serving in local councils who are yet to have filed declarations of wealth as required. MQG stated in their petition that the law requiring capital statements allows the promotion of proper norms in local government, including maintaining the integrity of elected officials in local authorities.

Concerns of infringement of rules for proper governance in The Municipality of Beit She’an – MQG turned to The Municipality of Beit She’an and to the Interior Ministry to halt all contact with attorney Moshe Gerame regarding legal advice to the municipality and with Mr. Avi Azoulay for providing PR services due to possible violations of proper administration regulations regarding the use of public funds.

Demanding the imprisonment of Rabbi Pinto – MQG appealed to The Attorney General, Yehuda Weinstein and to The State Prosecutor, Shai Nitzan, demanding they deliver Rabbi Pinto to justice. This follows the publication in the media of plans for forming a plea bargain under which a lesser indictment would be filed against the Rabbi. “If this option is implemented, it would be a message of inertness – and deprivation – to the severity of the offense of bribery as one which undermines one of the most basic conventions of a democratic society.” as written in the petition.

Request for a resolution regarding the matter of indictment of Dankner who is suspected of market manipulation – MQG turned to the state attorney asking for a resolution regarding the possibility to indict Dankner who is suspected of stock manipulation.

MQG to the Minister of Finance – Exceptional wage demands by Electric Company employees are to be rejected. MQG appealed to the Minister of Finance to examine the “benefits package” of IEC workers and to reject exceptional wage demands.

MQG and The Israeli Energy Forum to the Petroleum Commissioner: Postpone the custody decision of the “Leviatan Reserve” pending a resolution of the binding arrangement – MQG and The Israeli Energy Forum contacted the Commissioner of Petroleum Affairs in The Ministry of Energy, Mr. Alexander Warshavski, with an urgent letter demanding to delay the provision of custody of the “Leviatan gas reserve” to the Noble Energy and Ratzio oil companies, and to prevent further extension of the search license. This is until the issue of the binding arrangement is resolved.

Exemption from a binding arrangement for marketers – The current bill does not solve the failures of the agriculture market which are caused by an exemption from a binding arrangement. 3,000 farmers filed a petition to the Chairman of the Economic Committee supporting the amendment and according to the version proposed by the social economic organizations.

Those responsible for approving bank loans to the IDB group – MQG appealed to the Banking Supervisor and to The Governor of the Bank of Israel to ensure that those who approved banking loans to the IDB group will be reviewed and investigated for any faulty conduct, and that those found at fault shall be held responsible for their actions.

A police investigation committee regarding the handling of the organized crime problem – MQG appealed to the Prime Minister, to The Minister of Justice and to The Interior Minister calling them to exercise their authority and order the establishment of an inter-ministerial inquiry committee to examine the conduct of the law enforcement system regarding the issue of organized crime.

A longer cooling period in public service – MQG appealed to the Prime Minister and to The Chairman of the Labor Committee, calling them to determine which senior positions in public service require a longer cooling off period than the period currently stated in the Public Service Act, which stands at a single year.

Rewarding whistleblowers – MQG appealed to the members of the Knesset’s Public Inquiries Committee for implementation of “Integrity standards”, which have not been applied for more than 15 years, claiming that the compensation for revealing corruption is mainly – termination from the workplace.