Opinion & Comment
Politica
Legalizing Dictatorship

Last week the Economic Arrangements Bill for the Fiscal Year 5764/2003-2004 passed a first reading in a Knesset plenum. Essentially a compilation of various policy changes, a close examination of the bill reveals that it would serve as an effective means of instituting a dictatorship in the State of Israel. Otherwise there can be no explanation for the plethora of proposals appearing in it with the almost singular goal of granting the government and government ministers extraordinary powers at others' expense.

The first section, which deals with the local authorities, opens, "The aim of the bill is to allow, in the long term, increased structural efficiency of the public sector, to execute structural reforms in [various] areas of the economy, to attain the budget goals and to reduce the government deficit, government and public expenses and the national debt."

In essence the bill would allow the Interior Minister to control any local authority he wanted by superseding the democratically elected mayor, council members and other top- ranking city officials. If a local authority failed to collect municipal taxes, levies, fines and any other payments to the Interior Minister's satisfaction, an outside official would be appointed to take over collection.

Not only that but the Interior Minister would also determine the salary the collector would be paid, to be funded by the city rather than by the Interior Minister. The legislation presents no criteria that would be used to decide at what point the new municipal bill collector would be appointed. Thus at the Interior Minister could override any mayor or local council head not to his liking.

Another paragraph in the section on local authorities discusses the appointment of a supervising accountant at the local authority. This accountant would quickly turn into acting mayor and treasurer since any financial activities -- hiring employees, purchasing services, signing contracts, etc. -- could not be carried out without his approval.

Today there is already an apparatus for the appointment of a supervising accountant, but the innovation of the new bill lies in the criteria for his selection. The bill says this accountant can be appointed if the city's running deficit exceeds 10 percent.

The proposed legislation carries other absurdities as well, such as making property owners responsible for paying municipal taxes instead of their tenants, and giving the Interior Minister the power to replace any local planning and construction committee or local chairman he deems is not performing their task satisfactorily.

All entirely arbitrarily, without criteria or fixed requirements, but subject only to the Interior Minister's discretion.

From the Soccer Field to the Racetrack

The Knesset Finance Committee considered last week the Sports Betting Regulatory Council's NIS 870.4 million ($190 million) budget. These funds are generated by soccer matches held under conditions of disgraceful chilul Shabbos and designed to stimulate competitive sports.

While soccer is due cause for pain and anguish, the committee showed the creative Israeli mind seeks to break new records by leading the State of Israel and the Jewish nation further into the abyss. Following the notion of building a casino in Israel--a plan Mifal HaPayis, the Prime Minister's Office and other figures are busy working on--along comes the Sports Betting Regulatory Council with a brand new idea: horse racing!

Promoters say the plan would generate considerable income for the Council. If their dreams are realized, one day soon, after betting on a soccer match, the Israeli citizen could head for a casino and then top off the day with a trip to the track to put the last of his money down on a horse. What could be more splendid?

After building the casino and the horse-racing track, we can likely anticipate further advancements such as greyhound racing, car racing and eventually bullfights. What more could a nation dream of? And at this rate soon nothing more than a dream will remain.

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