Shmuel Rechtman
Encyclopedia
Shmuel Rechtman was an Israel
i politician who served as mayor of Rehovot
from 1970 until 1979, and as a member of the Knesset
for Likud
between 1977 and 1979.
during the Mandate era, Rechtman worked as the administrative director of the Kfar Silver
agricultural high school.
He joined the General Zionists
in 1949, and was one of the heads of the Liberal Workers Union. After the General Zionists merged into the Liberal Party
in 1961, Rechtman became chairman of the party's national council. He was elected onto Rehovot city council in 1965, and in 1970 he became mayor.
In 1976 he became a member of the Likud directorate (the party was then an alliance of the Liberal Party, Herut
and other right-wing parties), and was also chairman of the Likud bloc in the Histadrut
trade union. He was elected to the Knesset on the Likud list in 1977
. However, early in the Knesset session he was charged with taking bribes from a building contractor. Following a vote held by Rechtman's consent, his parliamentary immunity was withdrawn. In January 1978 he was found guilty and sentenced to three and a half years in prison. He appealed to the Supreme Court
, and continued in the Knesset until his appeal was dismissed. He resigned his seat on 18 June 1979, and was replaced by David Stern
. He also stepped down as mayor of Rehovot and left the Likud directorate. He was later imprisoned, becoming the first member of the Knesset to be jailed.
Rechtman died on 23 July 1988.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician who served as mayor of Rehovot
Rehovot
Rehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
from 1970 until 1979, and 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 Likud
Likud
Likud is the major center-right political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had...
between 1977 and 1979.
Biography
Born in RehovotRehovot
Rehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
during the Mandate era, Rechtman worked as the administrative director of the Kfar Silver
Kfar Silver
Kfar Silver is a youth village in southern Israel. Located near Ashkelon, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 316....
agricultural high school.
He joined the General Zionists
General Zionists
The General Zionists were centrists within the Zionist movement and a political party in Israel. Their political arm is an ancestor of the modern-day Likud.-History:...
in 1949, and was one of the heads of the Liberal Workers Union. After the General Zionists merged into the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Israel)
The Israeli Liberal Party was a political party in Israel and is one of the ancestors of the modern-day Likud.-History:The Liberal Party was formed on 8 May 1961, towards the end of the fourth Knesset, by a merger of the General Zionists and the Progressive Party, with the new party having 14...
in 1961, Rechtman became chairman of the party's national council. He was elected onto Rehovot city council in 1965, and in 1970 he became mayor.
In 1976 he became a member of the Likud directorate (the party was then an alliance of the Liberal Party, Herut
Herut
Herut was the major right-wing political party in Israel from the 1940s until its formal merger into Likud in 1988, and an adherent of Revisionist Zionism.-History:...
and other right-wing parties), and was also chairman of the Likud bloc in the Histadrut
Histadrut
HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael , known as the Histadrut, is Israel's organization of trade unions. Established in December 1920 during the British Mandate for Palestine, it became one of the most powerful institutions of the State of Israel.-History:The Histadrut was founded in...
trade union. He was elected to the Knesset on the Likud list in 1977
Israeli legislative election, 1977
The Elections for the ninth Knesset were held on 17 May 1977. For the first time in Israeli political history, the right-wing, led by Likud, won the election, ending almost 30 years of rule by the left-wing Alignment and its predecessor, Mapai...
. However, early in the Knesset session he was charged with taking bribes from a building contractor. Following a vote held by Rechtman's consent, his parliamentary immunity was withdrawn. In January 1978 he was found guilty and sentenced to three and a half years in prison. He appealed to 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...
, and continued in the Knesset until his appeal was dismissed. He resigned his seat on 18 June 1979, and was replaced by David Stern
David Stern (Israeli politician)
David Stern was an Israeli businessman and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Likud between 1979 and 1981.-Biography:Stern was born in Suwałki in the Russian Empire in 1910. During World War I his mother fled the Germans with him and his brother, Avraham, and found refuge with...
. He also stepped down as mayor of Rehovot and left the Likud directorate. He was later imprisoned, becoming the first member of the Knesset to be jailed.
Rechtman died on 23 July 1988.