Ahead of the vote on the proposed amendment to the Security Service Law, Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik ruled that members of Knesset who have close relatives facing enforcement measures or legal proceedings for failing to report for military service must disclose that fact before the vote. However, they will still be permitted to participate in the vote afterward.

In a letter sent today to Knesset members, Afik addressed the issue of potential conflicts of interest related to the legislation, which would prevent the arrest of yeshiva students.

Afik noted that measures such as suspending legal proceedings, freezing arrests, or exempting individuals from prosecution could create either an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of one. In such cases, the MK is required to make a public disclosure before participating in the debate or voting on the bill.

However, Afik clarified that the Knesset’s ethics rules do not prevent an MK from voting after making the required disclosure, and that there is no restriction on participating in the vote once the personal interest has been declared.

The letter also states that each MK bears personal responsibility for identifying and avoiding prohibited conflicts of interest, based on his or her own knowledge of personal and family circumstances.

Afik further wrote that simply having a relative who belongs to the broader group of bnei yeshivos who have not reported for military service does not require disclosure, provided that no arrest warrant has been issued and no enforcement or legal proceedings have been initiated against that relative.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)