Esterina Tartman
Encyclopedia
Esterina Tartman is an Israel
i politician. She served as a member of the Knesset
for Yisrael Beiteinu between 2006 and 2009.
in February 2006, two months before the end of the 16th Knesset's term after Yisrael Beiteinu had split from the National Union
and gained another seat. She retained her seat in the 2006 elections.
Since the start of the 17th Knesset's term, Tartman has made a number of controversial acts. In October 2006 she stated that she would introduce a bill to remove Knesset Members who were deemed to be anti-Israeli, though she later backed down and did not submit the bill after a request from Knesset speaker Dalia Itzik
.
In January 2007 Tartman submitted a bill to the Knesset that would curb the authority of the Supreme Court
to overturn government legislation. Later in the month Tartman hit the headlines after saying Labour
's nomination of Raleb Majadele
a Muslim
Arab
for a Ministerial position
was a "lethal blow to Zionism". Majadele's Ministerial position was eventually confirmed by a cabinet vote, though Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman abstained from voting.
Despite her controversial remarks, in February 2007, Lieberman nominated her to take the position of Tourism Minister
which had been vacated by Isaac Herzog during a cabinet reshuffle caused by Yisrael Beiteinu's addition to Ehud Olmert
's coalition. In response, Israeli Arab MK Ahmad Tibi
stated the move was "a lethal blow to sanity and tolerance". Since her nomination, she has said she would propose revoking the citizenship of Israeli Arabs and ultra-Orthodox Jews who refused to sign a declaration of their loyalty to Israel. Further controversy followed when the major newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth
revealed that she does not hold a Master's degree
despite claiming so in her CV and in television interviews. Despite Lieberman insisting she was still the party's only candidate, after much media pressure, Tartman announced that she was withdrawing her candidacy for the post, with Yitzhak Aharonovich
announced as her replacement.
Prior to her political career, Tartman won a claim in the High Court that she was "52% disabled" and that she could only work four hours a day due to a car accident she had been involved in during the mid-1990s, though the limitation only applied for one year. She was also awarded 2.5 million shekels. The claim detailed that she had memory, concentration and attention problems. When beginning her political career she stated that the "Knesset is easy work - inconsistent and consisting mostly of talk".
Tartman lost her seat in the 2009 elections
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician. She served as a member of the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
for Yisrael Beiteinu between 2006 and 2009.
Political career
Tartman entered the KnessetKnesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
in February 2006, two months before the end of the 16th Knesset's term after Yisrael Beiteinu had split from the National Union
National Union (Israel)
The National Union is an alliance of nationalist political parties in Israel. In the 2009 elections the National Union consisted of four parties: Moledet, Hatikva, Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, and Tkuma.-Background:...
and gained another seat. She retained her seat in the 2006 elections.
Since the start of the 17th Knesset's term, Tartman has made a number of controversial acts. In October 2006 she stated that she would introduce a bill to remove Knesset Members who were deemed to be anti-Israeli, though she later backed down and did not submit the bill after a request from Knesset speaker Dalia Itzik
Dalia Itzik
Dalia Itzik , born 20 October 1952, is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Kadima. She has previously served in several ministerial positions, and on 4 May 2006 became the first female speaker of the Knesset, and has since served as President of Israel in an...
.
In January 2007 Tartman submitted a bill to the Knesset that would curb the authority of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Israel
The Supreme Court is at the head of the court system and highest judicial instance in Israel. The Supreme Court sits in Jerusalem.The area of its jurisdiction is all of Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. A ruling of the Supreme Court is binding upon every court, other than the Supreme...
to overturn government legislation. Later in the month Tartman hit the headlines after saying Labour
Labor (Israel)
The Israeli Labor Party , commonly known as HaAvoda , is a social-democratic and labour Zionist political party in Israel. The party is an observer member of both Socialist International and the Party of European Socialists. The Israeli Labor Party was established in 1968 by a merger of Mapai,...
's nomination of Raleb Majadele
Raleb Majadele
Ghaleb Majadele is an Israeli Arab politician. A member of the Knesset for the Labor Party, he became the country's first Muslim minister when appointed Minister without Portfolio on 28 January 2007.-Biography:...
a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
for a Ministerial position
Cabinet of Israel
The Cabinet of Israel is a formal body composed of government officials called ministers, chosen and led by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister must appoint members based on the distribution of votes to political parties during legislative elections, and its composition must be approved by a...
was a "lethal blow to Zionism". Majadele's Ministerial position was eventually confirmed by a cabinet vote, though Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman abstained from voting.
Despite her controversial remarks, in February 2007, Lieberman nominated her to take the position of Tourism Minister
Tourism Minister of Israel
The Tourism Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and a relatively minor position in the Israeli cabinet. The position is currently held by Stas Misezhnikov of Yisrael Beiteinu....
which had been vacated by Isaac Herzog during a cabinet reshuffle caused by Yisrael Beiteinu's addition to Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, as a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006, and as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003....
's coalition. In response, Israeli Arab MK Ahmad Tibi
Ahmad Tibi
Ahmad Tibi is an Arab-Israeli politician and leader of Ta'al , an Arab party in Israel. He currently serves as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. He was elected on a joint ticket with the United Arab List to serve in Israel's parliament, the Knesset...
stated the move was "a lethal blow to sanity and tolerance". Since her nomination, she has said she would propose revoking the citizenship of Israeli Arabs and ultra-Orthodox Jews who refused to sign a declaration of their loyalty to Israel. Further controversy followed when the major newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth
Yedioth Ahronoth
Yedioth Ahronoth is a daily newspaper published in Tel Aviv, Israel. Since the 1970s, it has been the most widely circulated paper in Israel. In a TGI survey comparing the last half of 2009 with the same period in 2008, Yedioth Ahronoth retained the title of most widely read newspaper in Israel...
revealed that she does not hold a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
despite claiming so in her CV and in television interviews. Despite Lieberman insisting she was still the party's only candidate, after much media pressure, Tartman announced that she was withdrawing her candidacy for the post, with Yitzhak Aharonovich
Yitzhak Aharonovich
-External links:...
announced as her replacement.
Prior to her political career, Tartman won a claim in the High Court that she was "52% disabled" and that she could only work four hours a day due to a car accident she had been involved in during the mid-1990s, though the limitation only applied for one year. She was also awarded 2.5 million shekels. The claim detailed that she had memory, concentration and attention problems. When beginning her political career she stated that the "Knesset is easy work - inconsistent and consisting mostly of talk".
Tartman lost her seat in the 2009 elections
Israeli legislative election, 2009
Elections for the 18th Knesset were held in Israel on 10 February 2009. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the Kadima party, and the failure of his successor, Tzipi Livni, to form a coalition government...
.
External links
- Esterina Tartman Yisrael Beiteinu