JERUSALEM (JTA) — Longtime Israeli lawmaker Tzachi Hanegbi was forced to leave the Knesset in a departure that could affect the entire government.
Hanegbi, of the Kadima Party, announced that he was suspending his Knesset term after a Jerusalem court ruled Tuesday that a recent perjury conviction involved moral turpitude and fined him about $2,750. A three-judge panel voted 2-1 in favor of the moral turpitude finding.
In July, Hanegbi was convicted of perjury but was cleared of charges related to election bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
The finding of moral turpitude is automatic grounds for dismissal from the Knesset. Since Hanegbi did not receive a jail term of at least three months, however, he can run for the next Knesset.
Hanegbi, who has served in Knesset for 22 years, is the chairman of the Security and Foreign Affairs Committee. In the last Kadima leadership race he finished second to party leader Tzipi Livni.
He was in favor of the center Kadima Party joining the Netanyahu administration in order to form a national unity government — a prospect that seems more remote with his suspension.
Hanegbi called the moral turpitude finding "a very sad moment."
"My public work comes to a stop at this stage," Hanegbi said outside the courtroom. "There is no doubt that the distress and feeling of frustration is greatly softened by the decision that I will be able to run for the next Knesset. But this is a very sad moment."
