MK Tzachi Hanegbi (Kadima), chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, was found guilty of an ethics violation (disgrace) in his perjury conviction in the case of political appointments made when he was minister of environmental protection. The verdict was given moments ago by a majority of judges in the three-judge at Jerusalem Magistrates Court.
The judges set a fine of NIS 10,000, without a suspended jail term or public service. As a consequence of the decision, Hanegbi will be immediately suspended from the Knesset. Since the ethics violation decision was not accompanied by a jail term of at least three months, he will be allowed to run for the Knesset term.
Two of the three judges said that Hanegbi's affidavit included lies, and provided false testimony, and those offenses are ethics violations.
Judge Yoel Tsur gave a minority opinion that there was no disgrace involved.
"I oppose an over-harsh punishment," said Judge Tsur. "Disgrace should be given a limited meaning. It would be disproportionate to add disgrace to Hanegbi's acts. Eight years have passed; he came out clean, he bowed his head. Disgrace is disproportionate to the crime for which he was convicted. He has already been punished, he has had to pay a very heavy and real personal price."
Hanegbi said afterwards, "This morning is painful and difficult. I waged a legal battle for eight years out of the belief that the final result would be balanced and positive." Hanegbi added that he respected the decision, "Therefore, during the course of the day, I will appear at the office of the Knesset chairman, and will hand in notice of my suspension from the Knesset."
Judges Tsur, Aryeh Romanoff, and Oded Shaham had to decide today whether perjury is a crime that entails an ethic violation (disgrace).
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 9, 2010
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