Beit Shemesh case at the Knesset: "Democracy Test"
Heated discussion at Knesset Interior Committee on the question of elections in Beit Shemesh, and the presence of the mayor and his rival Eli Cohen, who argued that even dead people voted • Eichler: "The Knesset has become presentation of the Likud Central Committee" • Lipman: "The debate is not against anti-haredi" • Gafni: "question whether ultra-Orthodox mayor lawfully elected could serve "• See the documentation
- Sari Roth, B'Chadrei Charedim
- ט' כסלו התשע"ד
משה גולדשטיין
Election storm in Beit Shemesh turned today (Monday) to the Knesset Committee held a heated discussion Interior and Environmental Protection, headed by MK Miri Regev , where the subject of the allegations to divert municipal elections, when outside local activists roam the corridors and shouting denouncing Mayor Moshe Abutbul .
At the discussion elected mayor, Moshe Abutbul and candidate who ran against him, Eli Cohen, were present. Suspicions of bias during the election came up, as well as reports of 200 fake ID cards found on Election Day.
At the opening of discussion committee chairman MK Miri Regev said, that even before the election was held a committee meeting early to divert suspicion regarding the election of Beit Shemesh , but there was no reason to suspect this. However, she stressed that at the same discussion she asked the police and the Supervisor of Elections to be vigilant of suspected cases to divert municipal elections.
According to her, if it turns out that the elections were conducted properly then we have to accept the election results. MK Dov Lipman emphasized that the complaints of the opponents of the election results are not against haredi, and if there was no suspicion of fraud it would be possible to accept the election results. However, an action - illegal - during the election campaign - suggests that there was an attempt to divert the election.
Eli Cohen, the challenger who lost, said that "what happened in Beit Shemesh reflects what was before – there were forgeries, may be small. Not I stand before you, but society. There are 850 improper votes, there are dead who have voted." Cohen said he contacted the attorney general and intends to appeal to the court to challenge the election results. He asked the Chairman of the Interior to help in turning to an investigation.
MK Yisrael Eichler protested about the hearing and said that "The Knesset has turned into a Likud show; there is an anti - haredi campaign". He also said that "the test is democracy. For the first time we are discussing whether a haredi mayor who was chosen lawfully may act as mayor? "
Moshe Abutbul, elected mayor of Beit Shemesh, said he believed the residents expressed their trust in him again. However he said that he regrets the election irregularities and added that now he expects that all political forces unite in a strong coalition in favor of the city.
MK Rina Frankel said: "The Israeli society must worry about democracy in the municipal elections." She called to increase the punishment in cases of attempts to divert the election. MK Yaakov Margi joined the call for stricter punishment.
Brigadier General Uri Makhlouf, head of investigations, said the investigation is sensitive and that he can not reveal interim results for fear of hurting the investigation. He agreed to tell the committee that tens of complaints.
Conclusion of the meeting said MK Miri Regev, the chairman of the committee that "entities must not be allowed to penetrate the municipal council crime and prevent counterfeiting and biases in local elections." She asked that the Department of Justice and the Israel Police will hasten the investigation. Also requested that the Committee shall be when the investigation is a clear answer on whether fraud tipped the election result in Beit Shemesh. She suggested Eli Cohen to go to court and challenge the election results. Likewise she also asked for a report from the Minister of the Interior if it is decided to open a wider investigation.
At the discussion elected mayor, Moshe Abutbul and candidate who ran against him, Eli Cohen, were present. Suspicions of bias during the election came up, as well as reports of 200 fake ID cards found on Election Day.
At the opening of discussion committee chairman MK Miri Regev said, that even before the election was held a committee meeting early to divert suspicion regarding the election of Beit Shemesh , but there was no reason to suspect this. However, she stressed that at the same discussion she asked the police and the Supervisor of Elections to be vigilant of suspected cases to divert municipal elections.
According to her, if it turns out that the elections were conducted properly then we have to accept the election results. MK Dov Lipman emphasized that the complaints of the opponents of the election results are not against haredi, and if there was no suspicion of fraud it would be possible to accept the election results. However, an action - illegal - during the election campaign - suggests that there was an attempt to divert the election.
Eli Cohen, the challenger who lost, said that "what happened in Beit Shemesh reflects what was before – there were forgeries, may be small. Not I stand before you, but society. There are 850 improper votes, there are dead who have voted." Cohen said he contacted the attorney general and intends to appeal to the court to challenge the election results. He asked the Chairman of the Interior to help in turning to an investigation.
MK Yisrael Eichler protested about the hearing and said that "The Knesset has turned into a Likud show; there is an anti - haredi campaign". He also said that "the test is democracy. For the first time we are discussing whether a haredi mayor who was chosen lawfully may act as mayor? "
Moshe Abutbul, elected mayor of Beit Shemesh, said he believed the residents expressed their trust in him again. However he said that he regrets the election irregularities and added that now he expects that all political forces unite in a strong coalition in favor of the city.
MK Rina Frankel said: "The Israeli society must worry about democracy in the municipal elections." She called to increase the punishment in cases of attempts to divert the election. MK Yaakov Margi joined the call for stricter punishment.
Brigadier General Uri Makhlouf, head of investigations, said the investigation is sensitive and that he can not reveal interim results for fear of hurting the investigation. He agreed to tell the committee that tens of complaints.
Conclusion of the meeting said MK Miri Regev, the chairman of the committee that "entities must not be allowed to penetrate the municipal council crime and prevent counterfeiting and biases in local elections." She asked that the Department of Justice and the Israel Police will hasten the investigation. Also requested that the Committee shall be when the investigation is a clear answer on whether fraud tipped the election result in Beit Shemesh. She suggested Eli Cohen to go to court and challenge the election results. Likewise she also asked for a report from the Minister of the Interior if it is decided to open a wider investigation.