"You will decide for me what to say?" MK Dov Hanin exclaimed during a discussion in the Knesset Committee on the rules of ethics for Knesset members, in response to a proposal by Daniel Milo from the Ethics Center in Mishkenot Sha'ananim - who proposed restricting the expressions that Knesset members are allowed to use.
The committee continued to discuss today the proposed ethics rules formulated by Knesset Committee Chairman MK Tzachi Hanegbi and MK Miki Rosenthal. The discussion revolved mainly around two sections – appropriate language and MKs' responses to public inquiries.
Daniel Milo from the Ethics Center: "The appropriate language section is open, so we need to put in some restrictions. We have seen expressions that the public was not willing to tolerate. An expression that is harsh to me will be considered refined to another. That is why I propose to put in some restrictions. Is it okay to say Nazi?" To which MK Dov Hanin responded angrily: "Do you want us to shut up?""
MK Mickey Rosenthal, who moderated the discussion, said: "Cursing and profanity here is a cultural matter. Sometimes an MK wants to express disgust at a phenomenon and he describes it in words that in your eyes would be interpreted as inappropriate. Who determines what is inappropriate? Therefore, the Ethics Committee will decide whether the expression was appropriate, and I am sure that they will use their authority to condemn inappropriate expression in a very rare manner.".
This is not an answer, this is smearing.
Another issue discussed today is the handling of public inquiries by MKs. The debate revolves around the question of whether it is correct to set a threshold by which an MK must respond to every inquiry.
MK Uri Maklev: "I receive many inquiries about matters of opinion, which I do not wish to comment on. These are sensitive issues and sometimes people ask in order to trip me up. I do not want to intensify disputes. There are also inquiries that deal with injustices - a person sent me a letter of dozens of pages about an injustice that a judge did to him. There are also regular phone calls to the chamber, including a number of mentally ill people who call from the hospital, not to mention hundreds of insights and ideas. I do not have the tools to respond to everyone, although I try to respond to everyone who contacts me with a business-related question.".
MK Mickey Rosenthal claimed that everyone, especially MKs, is expected to respond to applicants even if the application is irrelevant. On the other hand, he noted that a member of the Knesset may also choose not to respond. MK Dov Hanin reminded those present that their working assumption that he manages to see all applications is optimistic and unrealistic. "There is a huge flood of hundreds of applications a week. People write with their hearts' blood and I cannot stand it.".
MK Rosenthal tried to suggest that on matters that are not within the Knesset member's authority, he should respond with the phrase "Your request is not within my authority," but MK Maklev responded that "that's not an answer, that's a smear.".
The debate on the wording of this section (section 24 of the proposal) has not been completed, and the Knesset Legal Advisor will formulate a new wording that will be brought up for discussion at a later date.
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