MK Simon Davidson was sworn into the 24th Knesset in July two years ago, he became one of the most prominent parliamentarians of the Yesh Atid party, and the issue that became most identified with him is Israeli sports. Davidson participated in dozens of discussions on Israeli sports, fought during the coronavirus period in favor of gyms, swimming pools and other sports, and promoted bills relating to sports activity. However, MK Mish Atid forgot to update on a very problematic conflict of interest he finds himself in.
MK Simon Davidson and his wife Ronit in the Knesset (Photo: Reuven Castro)
In October 2021, the new MK participated in two discussions held in the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee. Both dealt with regulations designed to grant an exemption from the presence of an instructor in a gym under certain conditions. The discussions took place about a week apart, and in both Davidson was almost the only Knesset member who participated in them. He often asked, promoted amendments that he claimed needed to be worded, and even passionately explained the need: "I hope it will be good mainly for the trainees and also for the clubs themselves."
At the height of the discussion, when a legal dispute arose over whether a gym required the presence of a first aid presenter or a graduate of a first aid course, Davidson immediately jumped: "Can we get advice on this? It's going to fail the clubs." These were not the only discussions that dealt with gyms or swimming pools that Davidson made sure to participate in. Since being sworn in, he has taken part in a series of debates, in the 24th and 25th Knessets, and has even participated in some of the votes, some of which have tremendous economic significance for gyms.
One detail Davidson forgot to tell Knesset members, legal advisers or the professional bodies who sat in the discussions: that he had a conflict of interest. From documents obtained by Walla! It appears that Davidson's wife, Nurit, owns a company that operates a country club in Netanya, their hometown. The company, called Fitness & Force, owns another company called "Colleges", which operates a well-known sports club in the city, founded by Davidson himself in 2006. According to an October 2022 Israel Corporations Authority document, while serving as a Knesset member, Davidson was registered as a director of a company owned by his wife.
Registration with the Corporations Authority of the Davidson couple's company (Photo: official website, none)
Colleges include a gym, swimming pools, tennis courts, football and basketball fields, a gymboree, a children's studio and classes, a dry sauna and more. When he was sworn into the Knesset, Davidson transferred ownership of the place to his wife, but while sitting in Knesset committee hearings and discussing decisions, regulations and legislation that might benefit his family's business, he did not reveal the problematic nature of this and the conflict of interest in which he finds himself, except for general statements such as "I have dealt with this issue all my life" or "the establishment of large clubs and I know it from all sides." As he said in one of the discussions about gyms last month.
Another example is from May last year, during the Bennett-Lapid government, when the Education, Culture and Sports Committee held a brief discussion on training minors in the gym. The committee required Knesset members to approve a procedural procedure that the Ministry of Culture and Sport sought to promote and which is relevant to training underage boys in gyms. Chairman MK Sharan Haskel opened the discussion and this time too, MK Davidson was the only one honored by his presence. In this discussion as well, he did not reveal anything to the participants about his wife Nurit owning a large country club with a "well-equipped and sophisticated" gym. That didn't stop him from attacking the smaller gyms during the discussion, "not in the country and the fancier, bigger gyms," as he put it. "The 100-shekel-a-month gyms took down instructors. I tell the Sports Ministry, check what's going on there. There needs to be some kind of oversight on this issue." At the end of the discussion, Davidson raised his hand in favor of the committee vote. Conflict of interest? Cares.
MK Simon Davidson appears as a director in sports website management companies owned by his wife (Photo: official website, none)
We contacted MK Davidson's office whether he did not see anything wrong with his conduct or failure to declare a conflict of interest, and we were told in response that he "does not" consider it improper. A response on his behalf read: "As a sports person who served as chairman of the Israel Swimming Association and as a member of the Olympic Committee prior to entering the Knesset, MK Simon Davidson faithfully represents Israeli sports. Thus, in his parliamentary activity, MK Davidson promotes the State of Israel and Israeli sports, both professional and popular."
Davidson says there's nothing to prevent him from working for gyms or swimming pools, even though his wife owns a caterley that operates them. His office said that "as far as the Knesset and the Attorney General are concerned, there is nothing to prevent MK Simon Davidson from acting, acting and will act to promote Israeli sports, including swimming, swimming pools and gyms in Israel. Therefore, there is no need to provide any declaration, since the details you presented in the questions are published throughout the Internet, in the Knesset member's resume, in his Wikipedia, and in many open sources. At the same time, MK Simon Davidson tries to tell his personal acquaintance with the field at the beginning of his remarks in discussions dealing with these issues."
"Since entering the Israeli Knesset, MK Simon Davidson is no longer a director of any of the companies. But due to Walla!'s request, MK Davidson turned to his lawyer to examine why it was claimed by you that "according to the records, MK Davidson still appears as a director" and, if necessary, to deal with it immediately."
Following MK Davidson's statement that he had received approval for this from the Knesset's legal counsel, we contacted the Knesset's legal counsel for comment, and they did not confirm this. "As a rule, in accordance with the ethical rules applicable to Knesset members, the existence of a conflict of interest is examined in accordance with the concrete case and its circumstances, and accordingly the applicable limitations are determined, including the obligation to disclose. The responsibility for the conflict of interest lies with the Knesset member. More than a year ago, as part of MK Davidson's release from further employment in accordance with the position of the Knesset's legal counsel, his attention was drawn to the possibility of fear of conflict of interest in certain cases. We haven't known any appeal since."
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- Netanya