MK Jailed For Corruption Won't Get Leave For Grandson's Bris

Shlomo Benizri's attorneys say the ruling is "discriminatory."

Benizri won't leave prison for grandson's brit
Tel Aviv District Court denies former minister's request to attend his grandson's circumcision ceremony. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to take his place as child's godfather
Vered Luvitch • Ynet

The Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday denied an appeal by former Minister Shlomo Benizri to leave prison in order to attend his grandson's circumcision ceremony in Jerusalem.

Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, will take Benizri's place as the child's godfather [sandik] during the event.

Benizri was represented in the court by Attorney's Avi Himi and Yoram Malka, who claimed that the ruling was discriminatory. According to the lawyers, the court granted a similar request filed by two other prisoners who were not yet entitled to prison leaves.

Judge Zvi Gurfinkel wrote in his ruling, "It's true that other prisoners were granted a special leave. The question is whether this should open a window to granting leaves to all prisoners, despite the fear that allowing the petitioner to leave will constitute a break of the procedures obligating all prisoners. The petitioner is indeed being discriminated against."

The judge addressed the State's claim that the two other prisoners were allowed to leave the prison by mistake. "I am not getting into that claim, as the Israel Prison Service has its own reasoning. Accepting the petitioner's request this time will lead to a situation in which the IPS order on allowing prisoners to take a special leave will be meaningless."

'Unequal treatment'
Benizri's son, Netanel, told Ynet that this was the continuation of unequal treatment of his father. "It's very painful and regretful for the entire family. There have been precedents in the past, but when it comes to Benizri there are no precedents, not benefits and no considerations. He entered prison quietly and is doing everything quietly. He is lecturing and doing all he can."

Attorney Himi said in response to the ruling, "The State Prosecutor's Office is abusing former public figures, and if their name is Benizri, they abuse them sevenfold."
 
Attorney Malka added, "Benizri is in a very bad mood. He accepts the sentence, but wants to see some sensitivity and equality between him and other prisoners, who were allowed to leave for such events. It's important to note that Benizri is not allowed to meet with his old and sick parents or with his brother, due to the IPS's visits quota."

Benizri began serving his four-year sentence on September 1, after being convicted of taking a bribe. Several days later, he was visited by Rabbi Yosef, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai and members of the Shas Council of Torah Sages.

Comments

[Mr. Apikoros]

I have an idea. Rather than give him a furlough so he can attend his grandson's bris, how about whacking Benizri's pee-pee as a proxy?

Benizri already had a bris? A little more off the top, please.

[rabbidw]

Come on!!! Is he a flight risk? A little rachmonus is always appropriate.

[Shmarya]

I think the issue is a s follows:

1. Benizri hasn't served enough time to get a furlough.

2. The prison service denied dozens of inmates in Benizri's situation.

3. It has apparently twice allowed an early furlough.

4. The Prisons Service says this was done in error.

5. The court ruled that – even if the two early furloughs were not mistakes and were in fact intentional – they do not constitute a precedent whereby any prisoner who asks (or any non-violent prisoner who asks) automatically gets an early furlough.

6. Benizri does not appear to have claimed any special reason to be given preferential treatment. (I.e., a handicapped child in need of his companionship, etc.), and this is not, thank God, a funeral. (Or, for that matter, a wedding.)

7. So what Benizri wants is special treatment.

8. The court refused to give it to him.

[Al]

I guess the Israeli's are anti-semites.

[effie]

The consequences of corruption should be made as unpleasant as possible. He's lucky he's not in China where they sentence corrupt public officials to death.

[steve]

Maybe they can arrange for the bris to take place in the prison. Where is Leib Glanz when we need him?

[seymour]

so now we can Get Leave for a baptism, sweet sixteen, college graduation.

Why not hold the bris in jail, like the Bar mizvha