On Sunday, during his cabinet meeting remarks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) told his assembled ministers that Minister Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud) is submitting for a vote a proposal “to lift the immunity of documents and protocols of the commissions of inquiry on the disappearance of the Yemenite children.”
Netanyahu noted that, in his opinion, “the families whose children disappeared and the public at large deserve to know what the commissions of inquiry discussed.” Turning to Hanegbi, he said, “I know that you speak about lifting all of the restrictions and, in effect, allowing people to see with their own eyes all of this material on the Internet. I would like to thank you, Tzachi, for your welcome and expedited action, and that of your team. I would like to also thank MK Nurit Koren and the other MKs for working to advance this important issue.”
Minister Hanegbi, who is himself of Yemenite extraction, then addressed the cabinet, saying: “Today’s decision will not eliminate the pain and suffering that thousands of immigrants have endured. Brothers, sisters and families, live with the feeling of their children gone for many decades. But this decision is important in two respects. First of all, to really allow family members and their authorized representatives, and in fact to the public to go online and see the difficult, oppressive and gloomy picture in its fullness, and get as close as possible to understanding the truth.”
Hanegbi added, “Secondly, the government today, I believe, will put an end to this unbearable reality, unjustified confidentiality, that has been imposed for seventy years on these materials, at least in mine and in the eyes of the professional staff, and we could not find any discussion, any explanation that clarifies why anyone thought it was so necessary. It will put an end to the suspicion, skepticism and mistrust towards the state agencies by the families.”
Hanegbi thanked the Prime Minister “who initiated this move in which I was authorized to present my recommendation to the government. I thank the Justice Minister who placed her office and her team at my disposal on this issue. I thank the team which worked closely with me for many months: the archivist of the state archives, Jacob Lazovic, Head of the Freedom of Information unit, the Ministry of Justice, Rivkie Dvash and the legal adviser of the State Archives, Naomi Aldouby.”
“Indeed, as the Prime Minister said,” Hanegbi concluded, “this is just the beginning of the process. Try going online and understanding this subject. The Knesset should confirm our decision and MK Nurit Koren will continue to lead the implementation of our decisions and put them into practice.”
