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Saxony’s Public Petitions Committee is interested in Israel – taking a tour of the Knesset with no less than 28 members of the committee from the State of Saxony, Germany
Publicized: June 6, 2012 It may be only one of the 16 states of Germany, with a population 4.5 million, but in its parliament, there are no less than 28 members in the committee charged with public inquiries and petitions. This became clear this Wednesday, during a meeting between Public Petitions Committee of the Knesset and its counterpart in the State of Saxony. The German committee arranged a tour of Israel in order to learn how the civilian petition handling mechanism operates in the Israeli parliament, and the extent of its influence. The visit was conducted in an exemplary manner and included a taste of the reality of Israeli democracy. Public Petitions Committee chairman MK David Azoulay (Shas) welcomed the German delegation and opened his speech with an update regarding the Knesset`s agenda. Azoulay: ”We are on the day when an important decision has to be made: Whether or not to destroy structures built in Judea and Samaria on Palestinian private land. This was a bureaucratic mistake in providing approvals for construction and the court intervened and ordered the condemnation of the buildings. A difficult decision, because it means the evacuation of families living in those buildings for over ten years.” Azoulay reviewed the committee`s work, but not before describing his view on its importance: ”Up until a few months ago I served as chairman of an important committee the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, but in the Public Petitions Committee, I feel great satisfaction in that it provides services to the public caught under the wheels of bureaucracy. The committee receives thousands of petitions and we can be a bridge between the citizen and the government authorities.” Azoulay gave several examples of the Committee’s handling of various civil and consumer problems and stressed that ”despite being a non - statutory body, the Committee has had quite a few achievements.” Saxon Public Petitions Committee Chairman, Tino Gunther: ”The Public Petitions Committee in the State of Saxony has 28 members from five different factions, who often succeed to work together thanks to focusing on the problems of the individual.” Gunther noted that ”most of the committee`s members actively participate in its deliberations and tours.” His remarks showed that contrary to the Knesset Committee, the Public Petitions Committee in Saxony is also involved in issues that in Israel are under the auspices of the State Comptroller. At the end of the meeting, the Saxon chairman thanked his host, MK Azoulay, and the two chairmen exchanged gifts. During the meeting it was found that there is much in common between them. Both came from a background in education before they began their parliamentary activities.  © Copyright 2013, all rights reserved to the State of Israel or to third parties as detailed in this link. We welcome your Suggestions and Comments. Email: feedback@knesset.gov.il | |||||
