The Knesset on Tuesday evening approved in a preliminary reading the so-called “Deri Law,” proposed by MK Moshe Arbel, which will allow Shas chairman Aryeh Deri to serve as a minister in the next government despite his conviction of tax-related offenses, Aruzt Sheva reports.
Deri was sentenced in February to a one-year suspended sentence, along with a fine of 180,000 shekels, as part of a plea bargain. As part of the plea bargain, Deri was not barred from returning to politics on the grounds of moral turpitude, but was forced to resign from the Knesset.
Tuesday’s proposal was supported by 62 Knesset members compared to 53 who voted against it, and it will be forwarded to the Knesset Regulatory Committee which will, in turn, determine the committee which will prepare the bill for its first reading.
{Matzav.com Israel}
If only all ministers of this govt would have so few offenses. Arye Deri was convicted because he was a chareidi and Sefardi and spend too much of his money for tzadakkah.