Repeal
of 'Deri Law' passes first reading
By Gideon Alon - Ha'aretz Knesset Correspondent
The Knesset approved a bill to repeal the so-called "Deri Law" in first reading
last night, by a vote of 47-36.
The "Deri Law," enacted two weeks ago, makes most prisoners eligible for parole
after serving only half their sentences, rather than the previous minimum of two-thirds.
It received its nickname after Shas successfully introduced an amendment to make the law
retroactive, so that it would apply to the party's convicted former chairman, Aryeh Deri.
Support for the government-sponsored repeal bill came from Labor, Meretz, Shinui, Hadash,
the National Religious Party, the Center Party, Democratic Choice and one Likud MK, Tzipi
Livni. The votes against came from Shas, United Torah Judaism, Gesher, Yisrael b'Aliyah,
Herut, the remaining Arab parties (excluding Hadash) and one Likud MK, Yuval Steinitz.
With the exception of Livni and Steinitz, Likud MKs - many of whom had voted in favor of
the "Deri Law" two weeks ago - either abstained or absented themselves from the
vote. The National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu faction did the same. It was largely this
massive abstention, encompassing 15 MKs who had voted for the "Deri Law," that
enabled the repeal bill to pass.
Shas MKs appeared shocked by the results of the vote, and faction chairman Yair Peretz
threatened that the party would "bury" the bill. But Justice Minister Yossi
Beilin, who was largely responsible for the repeal bill, was delighted.
"The black spot has not yet been removed, but there is a good chance that it will be
removed soon," he said. "We will try to pass the bill through its second and
third readings as quickly as possible."
MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud), who sponsored the "Deri Law," abstained from voting
yesterday. Rivlin, who never favored the retroactivity clause, said he was pleased by the
repeal bill's passage, because this might finally enable the Knesset to discuss the idea
of early parole on its own merits rather than in relation to a single individual.
Rivlin stressed that he had been working on the early parole bill for years - long before
he even met Deri, and certainly long before anyone considered indicting the former Shas
leader.
The bill, which the Justice Ministry has been working on for the past year, is not merely
a repeal of the "Deri Law," however. It also deals with a host of other issues
related to the parole of prisoners, such as under what circumstances parole should be
granted or denied.
In addition to the government bill, four private member's bills on this subject were also
approved in preliminary reading last night. But these bills - sponsored by Naomi Chazan
and Avshalom Vilan (Meretz), Yehudit Naot (Shinui), Yael Dayan (One Israel) and Anat Maor
(Meretz) - are all are straight repeals of the "Deri Law."
The "Deri Law" has also been challenged in the High Court of Justice. However,
passage of the repeal bill would obviate any need for the court to rule. |
