Netanyahu Decides to Remove Oren Hazan From State Control Committee

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to remove MK Oren Hazan from the Knesset's State Control Committee, Channel 2 reported on Tuesday evening.

Hazan, who is a member of the committee, said on Monday he would support the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the mishandling of 2014 Gaza war, dubbed Operation Protective Edge. Israeli law says the State Control Committee may establish a committee commission inquiry based on State Comptroller reports.

Netanyahu fears this scenario and were Hazan to support it, the opposition would probably have the majority needed to approve the motion.

Hazan continued to oppose the prime minister on Tuesday, when he spoke out against Netanyahu’s policies towards the new state broadcasting corporation.

Hazan responded to the report that the prime minister was planning on having him removed from the committee saying: “This is not the first time that the Likud leaders that dare expressing their own opinion for the benefit of the public and Likud members are decapitated. It happened before with Gideon Sa’ar, with Kahlon, who was forced to resign, with Danny Danon, who was fired from his job as deputy defense minister when he criticized the mishandling of Gaza tunnels, with Gilad Erdan, who was punished, and with Yisrael Katz who lost his ministerial portfolio during the last Knesset because he dared to raise his head.”

MK Karin Elharar (Yesh Attid), chairwoman of the State Control Committee responded to the news saying “Benjamin Netanyahu’s games won’t help him. The State Control Committee, which I chair, will discuss the State Comptroller report on Operation Protective Edge in a businesslike and serious manner. Anyone who has something to do with this report will be a part of the discussion and anyone who needs to take responsibility will do so. The prime minister is acting out of purely political motives and it isn’t clear what he is so worried about.”