Aharon Abu-Hatzeira said today that he intends to resign from the Cabinet but will remain in the Knesset pending the outcome of his appeal to the Supreme Court against his conviction yesterday on three counts of larceny, fraud and breach of trust. He told reporters, as he emerged from a meeting with Premier Menochem Begin, that he was sure the high court would overturn his conviction because he is innocent.
Abu-Hatzeira, Minister of Labor, Welfare and Absorption heads the three-member Tami faction, a partner in Begin’s coalition government. He said he told the Prime Minister his decision to resign would have to be approved by Tami. But that seemed unlikely in view of the massive show of support he received when he appeared at the party’s center last night.
Abu-Hatzeira said he thought he should resian from the government because his ministerial responsibilities required full time attention but he will be busy for the next few months preparing his appeal. He did not say what Begin’s comments were.
Israeli law does not require a Cabinet minister to resign if he is convicted of a criminal offense, though he must if the Prime Minister demands it. A resigned minister may be reappointed to the Cabinet. A Knesset member who resigns cannot return to his seat which is immediately assigned to the candidate next on the party list.
Abu-Hatzeira’s decision to remain in the Knesset apparently stemmed from that consideration. But the Knesset can oust any member whose conviction stands after the appeals process and who is sentenced to more than one year’s imprisonment. Abu-Hatzeira faces a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.
His intention to hold on to his Knesset mandate indicated that the Tami faction will stay in Begin’s coalition for the time being. Should it leave, however, the government would lose its pnevote parliamentary majority. That outcome appeared likely to other Tami members. Deputy Absorptian Minister Aharon Uzan predicted yesterday that “the government would not long survive.” Tami Secretary General Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said there would be new elections within 6-12 months.
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