Weekly Update - December 29, 2005

12/29/2005

Yossi Beilin, Chairman of Meretz-Yachad: "What Israel requires is not a medical progress report of the Prime Minister, but a political one."
"The so-called political platform that "Kadima" has put forward, which includes worn-out platitudes, lacks any public commitment regarding defined borders or a precise timetable for withdrawal. Sharon must abandon this approach of obfuscation and denial and clarify exactly what steps he intends to take if he wants the public to grant him another term at the helm of government."

In his response to the pronouncement by the Minister of Finance announcing the increase of tuition at institutions of higher education, Yossi Sarid said: "Ehud Olmart is just standing in for Binyamin Netanyihu."
The former Minister of Education, Yossi Sarid, said that despite the resignation of Binyamin Netanyihu from the Ministry of Finance, his policy still survives in the hands of Ehud Olmart. "Olmart seems unaware of the fact that Israeli students still pay more tuition than in any European country, with??out any justifica?tion whatsoever. By raising? tuition yet mor?e, albeit in the guise of instituting 'differential tuition,' Olmart is perpetuating higher education for the rich alone."

Approval on Second and Third Readings: Haim Oron’s proposal to grant the Ombudsman for Social Security matters powers of enforcement.
The Knesset approved in its Second and Third Readings, the proposal tabled by M.O.K. Haim Oron which would grant the Ombudsman for Social Security matters powers of enforcement.
The proposal was passed on a margin of 15 votes.
The proposed law establishes that should the Ombudsman for Social Security matters find a refusal of medical service to a claimant to be unjustified, and should the Health Fund fail to comply with the Ombudsman's findings within 21 days, the claimant will be entitled to a full monetary refund of his expenses out of the funds designated for payment to the Health Fund by the Social Security Authority.
M.O.K. Oron said: "This proposal will eliminate the all too common situation wherein a claimant is eligible for a treatment or a drug according to law, but the Health Fund refuses to provide it. In such situations the claimant has no recourse but to continue the battle in the courts, or, worse, to forfeit the service to which he is entitled by the ruling of the Ombudsman."

Chairperson of the Meretz Faction, Zehava Gal'on, in the wake of the Government's decision to approve alternative National Service: "Alternative National Service should be granted to all applicants on the basis of religious or conscience."
Chairperson of the Meretz Faction Zehava Gal'on says that the Government decision to approve alternative National Service for Ultra-Orthodox and Arabs is a step in the right direction.
Gal'on tabled a proposal that establishes National Service for any applicant requesting release from military service on the basis of religious or conscience, a proposal included in the platform of Meretz for the forthcoming elections. National Service would not be on a voluntary basis but an alternative to military conscription.
Gal'on says that the Government should allow universal National Service for all those who claim exemption on the basis of religious or conscientious objection.

M.O.K.Vilan: "Peretz and Sharon remain the only ones who have not yet realized that Jerusalem must be divided."
M.O.K. Avshalom (Abu) Vilan said in response to a statement by Avidgdor Lieberman regarding the partition of Jerusalem: "Peretz and Sharon remain the only ones who have not yet realized that the interests of Israel are best served by reaching an agreement on Jerusalem in the context of which Israel would cede all of the Arab sections . Even Avidgdor Lieberman has already comprehended this."