Last update - 02:39 22/06/2007
Friedmann declines to defend top official from Haredi MKs' attacks
By Yuval Yoaz
Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann is refusing to defend a senior ministry staffer against personal attacks by ultra-Orthodox Knesset members. In contrast, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz demanded these MKs stop their disparaging behavior, terming it "a phenomenon that deserves to be roundly condemned."
The Justice Ministry official in question, Amnon De-Hartoch, oversees the criteria for state allocations to private bodies, such as Haredi non-profit organizations and independent school networks. For the past few years, De-Hartoch has come under attack from prominent Haredi MKs, including Moshe Gafni and Avraham Ravitz of United Torah Judaism.
For example, at a Knesset Education Committee meeting two months ago, De-Hartoch came to represent the Justice Ministry, but Gafni sought to bar him from participating, citing a conflict of interests.
"Because his son attends a state religious school in Ramot, he petitioned the High Court of Justice against the independent school in Ramot and took an active part in the campaign against the independent education," Gafni charged at the meeting. "He is very very opposed, personally. The Justice Ministry should send somebody else."
De-Hartoch countered: "What is going on here is simply inconceivable. Getting personal instead of dealing with the matter at hand. I wish to protest this."
Gafni interrupted: "This is a shocking conflict of interest."
De-Hartoch: "This is how he lets state officials speak. Such hospitality!"
Gafni: "Hospitality? Let him give [money] to the little girl without limbs."
Committee chair Michael Melchior was forced to interfere: "Rabbi Gafni, stop it, that's enough. I will adjourn the meeting if you interrupt again."
Following that meeting, a complaint was filed against Gafni with the Knesset Ethics Committee, which discused the matter Tuesday. Its decision is expected next week.
In view of the treatment of De-Hartoch, Attorney Gilad Kariv of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) requested Mazuz and Friedmann protest such verbal assaults by MKs on an unelected government official.
"Much to our regret, but not surprise," Kariv wrote to Mazuz and Friedmann, "De-Hartoch has become the target of recurrent attacks by MK Gafni, which quickly turned into inacceptable slander against him and his family, arrogant and dismissive treatment and expressions of rudeness that border on verbal violence. There is no need to expand on the grave severity of this behavior pattern by an MK, who seeks to silence civil servants through violent belligerence."
IRAC's letter found a ready response in Mazuz's office, but not so in Friedmann's.
"The attorney general is aware of this phenomenon and regrets it," wrote Mazuz's aide, Eyal Yinon. "He even spoke with MK Gafni and asked him to cease attacking De-Hartoch - as of now, to no avail. This phenomenon deserves to be roundly condemned. Attorney De-Hartoch has the full backing and support of his superiors at the Justice Ministry."
However, the justice minister's reply stated: "The conduct of MKs while carrying out their duties is not within my provenance. You must apply to the appropriate officials at the Knesset."
For years, Gafni has demanded De-Hartoch be moved to another job, and even tried to arrange an ambassadorship to Switzerland for him. According to Justice Ministry officials, De-Hartoch is a thorn in the side of the ultra-Orthodox MKs particularly because he is a religious man, and he often cites arguments from Jewish religious law to back up his refusal to approve excessive or inequitable budgetary allocations to the ultra-Orthodox.
A statement issued by Friedmann's office said: "The justice minister does not have the authority to act in response to statements by Knesset members on Knesset committees. Obviously, the minister objects to any inappropriate statement addressed to a civil servant. The matter is being handled by the Knesset Ethics Committee, and that is where the request for a response should be directed."