Knesset panel debate on 'Peres bill' continues

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice is to continue debate Wednesday over the "Peres Law" - the proposed amendment to the Basic Law on The Government aimed at allowing Shimon Peres to be appointed a second vice premier alongside Ehud Olmert - after the legislation was was harshly criticized Tuesday by legal scholars and members of the committee.

Committee Chairman MK Michael Eitan intends to bring the bill for a first reading in the plenum next week.

But in view of jurists' strong objections to the bill, MK Yitzhak Levy (National Religious Party) proposed Tuesday that the Constitution Committee inform the government that it cannot implement MK Haim Ramon's proposed amendment.

This view was seconded by MK Zahava Gal-On (Yahad), who termed the legislation "farcical." MK Hemi Doron (Shinui) said that "they're trying to prostitute the Knesset. We must not lend a hand to such legislation."

All of the academic experts who took part in the committee meeting criticized the bill.

"The proposed solution is unconstitutional and contradicts the correct concepts regarding the question of what is a worthy constitution," said Prof. Emanuel Gross. It was unthinkable, he said, to amend a constitution to suit the political needs of this or that person. "Political officials cannot terrorize the Constitution Committee and warn its members that if they don't approve the amendment there will be no coalition. You can't do illegal things in the name of political exigency," Gross emphasized.

Prof. Asher Maoz said it is impossible to have two people simultaneously serve as deputy prime minister with only one bearing a substantive title. The proposed legislation, he said, denotes a devaluation in the attitude toward basic laws. Maoz noted that the basic law on the government has been amended some 200 times already. "The constitution has to be taken seriously, not toyed with," he said.

Prof. Ariel Ben-Dor also expressed reservations about the amendment. "Nobody thinks that improving the regime in Israel entails appointing two deputies to the prime minister. This amendment is superfluous," he said.

Dr. Suzie Navot suggested an original way to amend the Basic Law on The Government by appointing Olmert "deputy prime minister" and appointing Peres "alternate prime minister." You can't have two deputies whose standing differs, she maintained.

	Knesset legal experts are examining ways to allow Labor leader Shimon Peres to become deputy PM without amending the basic law involving the post. (Archive)