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Last update - 07:32 14/03/2008 MK who touted Web censorship bill spent thousands on own computer use By Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Amnon Cohen, Zehava Galon  A Shas member of Knesset who has proposed to restrict access to pornographic, violent, and gambling-related Web sites has spent handsome sums of public money for personal computer and internet usage, official Knesset figures show. According to a Knesset report on MKs' expenses released earlier this month, MK Amnon Cohen spent NIS 78,690, including NIS 5,799 on Internet usage and another NIS 16,000 for two computers. Cohen's spree earned him fourth place on the list of the country's most spendthrift lawmakers. In terms of the budget item of maintaining contact with the public, Meretz whip Zehava Galon is the biggest spender among the 120 members of Israel's parliament, having spent NIS 97,829 last year. Advertisement Galon, a contender for the Meretz party leadership, spent NIS 29,279 on a survey; NIS 4,363 on refreshments, and NIS 2,199 on a palm-held computer. In response, Galon said she used her budget in strict accordance with its defined goals. David Tal (Kadima) ranked second in the list of spenders. Tal, who chairs the Knesset House Committee, spent NIS 81,760; including NIS 15,126 to learn a foreign language and NIS 34,948 in rent for a parliamentary office. Third place belongs to Moshe Sharoni (Pensioners Party), with a total expenditure of NIS 79,536. This includes NIS 1,360 for a plane ticket he bought to conduct a field trip overseas and NIS 41,298 for secretarial services. Fifth on the list is Avraham Michaeli (Shas), who spent NIS 78,380, of which NIS 7,380 went on office renovations. He also installed a security system in his office for NIS 2,000 and bought a laptop and a palm-held computer for NIS 22,208. Several MKs utilized the budget to learn a foreign language: The minister in charge of Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations, Ruhama Avraham Balila (Kadima) spent NIS 12,445; Michael Eitan (Likud) NIS 1,430, Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim (Kadima) NIS 2,585; Yoel Hasson (Kadima) NIS 4,185, Shas leader Eli Yishai NIS 15,000, and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik (Kadima) NIS 379. MKs also purchased electrical appliances; for instance, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu bought a refrigerator for NIS 850. The most frugal MK is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Kadima) who did not spend even one agora of this budget, although, as a cabinet minister and prime minister, he is allocated NIS 25,000. The next most frugal political figure is President Shimon Peres, who served as a cabinet minister and an MK up to mid-2007. He spent only NIS 333. Former MK and Balad leader Azmi Bishara, who left the country and resigned from the Knesset, managed to spend NIS 20,107 before his resignation. Every MK is allotted an annual budget of NIS 68,000, which can include rent for a an office outside the Knesset. MKs who do not rent such an office are eligible to receive NIS 49,000 annually. However, MKs can also save unused funds from the previous year. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah scare Lebanese group's influence has dramatically increased in the West Bank. Literary boycott Peres calls Muslim countries' shunning of Paris Book Fair 'most ridiculous.'   1.   Shas money 07:10  |  Dan 14/03/08   2.   $HA$ = CLOWNS 07:11  |  Wise Saba 14/03/08   3.   Do as I say not as I do. 10:15  |  Deborah 14/03/08   4.   Smear smear pt. 2 11:29  |  Israel citizen 14/03/08   5.   Defining what should be banned 12:44  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/03/08   6.   Distortion of the purpose of internet law 13:57  |  Ilan 14/03/08   7.   Quite reasonable 14:39  |  Binyamin Dissen 14/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Ten Commandments for Arab and Jew at war Responses: 84 IDF: Week-long lull in fighting appears over Responses: 112 Police arrest rabbi for 'inciting Palestinians' in East Jerusalem Responses: 88 State Dept. notes rise in world anti-Semitism over last decade Responses: 83 Haaretz.com TV: Al Jazeera slams Israeli boycott as attack on freedom of expression Responses: 55 Rosner's Domain If you marry them, you have a better chance of keeping them State Department: UN measures fuel anti-Semitism (WTR) Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? Neocons and the cultural proclivity of Jews (WTR) General Fraser and the third whiner More Headlines 18:53 PA slams Barak absence at talks with U.S. road map envoy 15:52 Three Qassams strike Negev as MK Vilnai tours Sderot 14:30 But did you know he's a Muslim? 19:34 Two Israelis wounded in clashes with IDF at anti-fence protest 16:05 If you marry them, you have a better chance of keeping them 13:54 Berlin official: Merkel speech to Knesset signals normalizing ties 15:37 State Dept. notes rise in global anti-Semitism over last decade 17:35 Police suspect homicide as two men trample cop with car, killing him 11:38 Iran hardliners likely to win Fri. vote after reformists barred from running 10:59 Markets fear central bank's buy of dollars won't stop U.S. plunge 04:17 Mother of Mercaz Harav victim backs 'political use' of son's murder 17:10 Dutch brace for new anti-Islam film directed by far-right leader 16:32 Court extends remand of two men suspected of beating Arab workers Previous Editions Select Day 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb

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