We have argued repeatedly over the years that Israel is better off without a constitution. Not that the idea of a constitution is bad, mind you. It is just that a poor constitution is far worse than none at all, and any constitution Israel is likely to adopt would be undoubtedly a poor one.

If you are not convinced, then consider the "Basic Law on Social Rights" now making its way through the Knesset. As you know, Israel has been putting together a sort-of-constitution in stages, through passing a series of "Basic Laws", that will have super-legal status, maybe.

Anyway, this "Basic Law on Social Rights" is a legislative atrocity. It simply introduces PC fads into the "constitution" as a Basic Law and will make it extremely difficult to maintain sanity in the Israeli marketplace after it passes.

As some examples:

This new "Basic Law" makes housing a "right." SO if I am too lazy to work or prefer to spend my money on something else, and as a result do not have "housing", the taxpayer will be required to provide it for me.

Similarly, utilities are a "right". SO if I do not pay my water or electricty bills, under this law the City or Electric company cannot disconnect me to force me to pay. SO who will pay? Tha generous taxpayer of course. Medical treatment is ALREADY a right, paid for by taxpayers, under earlier laws.

Parents who refuse to pay school surcharges, will be excused because education is a "right".

You picking up a theme? The Basic Law will dump everything onto the shoulders of the taxpayer, in the name of new nice "social rights". The "Basic Social Rights" are a serious of excuses for deadbeats to stick it to the taxpayer.

But there is more.

As you know, Israel is often shut down by trade union terrorists operating under the Histadrut. Things will get much worse with this "Basic Law". It will make union membership a "social right", but there will be no right NOT to belong to a union, nor any right NOT To have to pay union dues. The new law also establishes a "social right" for a "decent wage" through raising the minimum wage. Israel currently has 9% unemployment thanks to the minimum wage laws, and will have far higher unemployment once this atrocity becomes "Basic Law".

In short, if the PLO and Yossi Beilin do not destroy Israel, this "Basic Law" as a Leggo block in the new constitution of Israel definitely will.

Whenever a politician in Israel gets all misty over equality and "social" causes, time to go hide your wallet.

Steven Plaut

Copyright © 2001 by Steven Plaut.
All Rights Reserved.

-Published with permission