Bill limiting Bar Association’s control of its finances approved for final Knesset votes
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
A bill that would enable the justice minister and the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee to determine, in part, how the Israel Bar Association may use its own funds is approved by that committee for its final readings in the Knesset plenum.
According to the draft legislation, the Bar Association would only be able to use its membership dues to fund positions and activities related to the essential functioning of the organization.
Further funding could be raised in order to enable district Bar Association offices to cover their administrative and bureaucratic expenses, although that would need approval from the justice minister and the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.
Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky who initiated the law, argues that an agency that collects obligatory membership dues must have those funds supervised, and denies that the law interferes politically with the workings of the Bar Association.
Yesh Atid MK Karine Elharrar insists, however, that the law is “entirely revenge” against the Bar Association for not supporting Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s candidates for the Supreme Court.
Democrats MK Gilad Kariv denounces the law, saying it would have a chilling effect on other public agencies such as the Histadrut labor organization, the Kan public broadcaster, and public universities, and that the message is “If you don’t capitulate we’ll trample you.”
The bill now needs to be approved in back-to-back second and third readings in the Knesset in order to be passed into law.