The Knesset voted 61-30 by secret ballot today to waive the immunity of MK Samuel Flatto-Sharon so that he can stand trial on charges of buying votes that elected him to Parliament in May, 1977. The vote was one of the Knesset’s last acts before it adjourned for summer recess. It followed a 15-4 vote by the Knesset’s House Committee last night recommending that Flatto’s immunity be rescinded.
In a last-minute appeal to the Knesset today, Flatto, who heads a one-man faction in the Knesset, claimed that the House Committee had failed to read through the material in his favor but listened only to the presentations by Attorney General Yitzhak Zamir who believes he can prove the bribery charges in court. Flatto’s lawyers also appeared before the committee. He is basing his defense on the contention that the methods he used to woo voters were employed by all Knesset candidates. He said if he stands trial, it will be a “test case” for all Israeli political parties.
Flatto did his cause no good today when he referred to three coalition MKs on the House Committee as “pigs” because they voted against him after allegedly promising to uphold his immunity. The three–Haim Kaufman, Yitzhak Yitahaki and Hillel Zeidel–issued separate statements denying any promise or implied promise of support.
In reporting to the Plenum, House Committee chairman Yitzhak Berman was careful to point out that the committee was not making a prime facie judgement of the evidence but was merely attesting that the Attorney General had no political motive in seeking a waiver of immunity. Two of Flatto’s election aides, Jacque Bennaudice and Yaacov Halfon, have been charged with the same offense and may face trial.
Reports from Paris in the Israeli press today said that the French authorities would probably revive their request for Flatto’s extradition if the Knesset lifted his immunity. Flatto is wanted in France on charges of fraud and tax evasion. The MK, described as a millionaire, was a prominent businessman and real estate dealer in France before he came to Israel, allegedly to avoid arrest.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
