The Knesset Economic Affairs Committee held an especially turbulent session on Monday, after chairman Carmel Shama-Hacohen allowed lobbyists to enter the discussion about consumer protection.
A representative of the Association for Progressive Democracy challenged Shama-Hacohen about the lobbyists. All parties to the debate had the right to express their views, the chairman said.
Shama-Hacohen added that meetings of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee are open, and are even broadcast live on the Internet. "I have never felt that a lobbyist managed to change my position," he added. "As long as Knesset members are honest and smart enough, lobbyists do not have real influence," he said.
The origin of Monday's committee unrest was covert footage aired on Channel 2 show "Uvda" two weeks ago, showing lobbyists belonging to the firm Gilad - Government Relations & Lobbying, bragging about how they manipulate MKs. The result was that all lobbyists were banned from certain Knesset areas.
