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NEWS
MK Rabbi Ravitz Warns Knesset Against Constitution
By Eliezer Rauchberger
"I would like to warn that if we do not bravely confront but
run headlong to legislate a constitution, whether because of
the primaries or due to nationalist belief, during this
summer sitting of the Knesset we are liable to cause a
catastrophe," Deputy Welfare Minister MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz
warned on Monday during a meeting of the Knesset plenum to
discuss three no-confidence motions tabled by the opposition.
His speech followed two calls by Knesset Chairman MK Reuven
Rivlin to legislate a constitution during the summer sitting
of the Knesset, which opened this week.
The government managed to pass its first test of the summer
sitting when three no-confidence motions were rejected by a
majority of coalition members. Thirty-two MKs supported the
no-confidence motions, 37 voted against them and 5 abstained.
The Likud Rebels were absent from the vote following a
meeting held in the afternoon at which they decided to
continue to step up their battle against the government. Some
of the MKs even supported toppling the government. Yachad and
some Arab MKs abstained, sparing the government from a
potential embarrassment in its first test in the plenum since
the Knesset reconvened.
Rabbi Ravitz also said the Constitutional Committee has
already been discussing the issue of the constitution for two
years and the important question of how to approach this
loaded topic and reach common ground. He noted that the
chareidi MKs constantly repeat they have no need for a
constitution because the only constitution is the Torah, "but
a segment of the public and the Knesset members want a
constitution. Therefore we say from the outset that we must
begin to define our Jewish identity. To know who we are. And
we say that we must address the essence of the problem from
the outset of the discussions, which were very serious, and
with the best minds and jurists, but we did not even arrive
at the beginning of a solution to the problem . . .
"There are a few among the distinguished personages in this
house who are making haste," continued Rabbi Ravitz,
mentioning MK Rivlin and MK Michael Eitan by name. They want
to effect a rectification, he cautioned, "but this is a
rectification that could [wreak havoc] if we do not take care
of the main problem." He noted that only chareidi and
religious MKs are wary of the constitution if the main
problem is not addressed.
Shinui Chairman Tomi Lapid, who presented his party's no-
confidence motion, echoed the Knesset Chairman's criticism of
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for opting not to open the summer
sitting with the traditional policy speech. Lapid also
engaged both right- and left-wing MKs in extended debates and
justified his party's extortion of NIS 625 million to support
the budget.
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