Political career

Formerly a member of the National Religious Party, he was placed twelfth on the Yisrael Beiteinu list for the 2006 Knesset elections.^[3] Although the party won only eleven seats, Rotem entered the Knesset on 16 January 2007 as a replacement for the deceased Yuri Stern. He retained his seat in the 2009 elections, for which he was placed eighth on the party's list. He was re-elected for a third term in the 2013 elections on the joint Likud–Yisrael Beiteinu list.

Known for his "typical bluntness," and serving as the "powerful chairman" of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee,^[4] Rotem has worked on issues of religion and state. An Orthodox Jew, he has conducted negotiations regarding the conversion and civil partnership bills, two laws his party promised to pass, mainly to benefit immigrants from the former Soviet Union. The conversion bill was criticized by both Orthodox and Reform constituents, while the civil partnership bill was attacked by those favoring civil marriage in Israel.^[5] The civil union law, while limited, was passed and survived review by the High Court. It applies only to unions where both Israelis are listed as "without religion," but Rotem described it as a first step in the direction of civil marriages.^[6] Civil marriage advocates, who note that this law affects approximately 30,000 Israelis, view it as a positive development they hope that may will lead to "more far-reaching legislation."^[7]

In 2010 Rotem's committee unanimously approved a bill allowing Israeli absorption committees of small communities to reject applicants who did not meet certain criteria, such as "suitability to the community's fundamental outlook." Critics called this legislation racist and discriminatory, since it would allow communities to deny residence to applicants based on their gender, religion, or socioeconomic status.^[8] As committee chair, Rotem commented on criticism that the bill's intent was to deny equal residential access to Arabs: "In my opinion, every Jewish town needs at least one Arab. What would happen if my refrigerator stopped working on a Saturday?"^[9] A petition to overturn the law was filed, but the law was upheld by a 5–4 vote of the High Court of Justice.^[10]

Rotem was involved in conversion legislation in 2010 that created difficulties with the Jewish diaspora. Jonathan Sarna, professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University, noted that Rotem said he intended to solve the problem of conversions, but in a move that the diaspora though was "sleight-of-hand," Rotem inserted an amendment making conversion subject to the Israeli chief Rabbinate, an institution viewed as hostile to the Jewish diaspora. Sarna recalled that Rotem insisted he was misunderstood and was sorry. Richard Jacobs (rabbi), president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said Rotem's bill was stopped because "Jewish federations and denominations leaned heavily on Prime Minister Netanyahu." Jacobs commented that the diaspora considers some of Rotem's perspective problematic because of the high impact legislation Rotem's committee works on, such as issues of Jewish identity and pluralism.^[11] To avert what The New York Times called a "crisis" in the relationship between Israel and the diaspora, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared he would delay this legislation which "could tear apart the Jewish people." Rotem, on the other hand, said criticism was based on misinterpretation of the legislation on the part of Reform and Conservative leaders. "They need to check the facts before they speak. They are acting like absolute idiots."^[12]

In June 2013 Rotem was in line to become the newest addition to the influential Judicial Nominations Committee. However, in a last minute upset, he was defeated by a candidate from the opposition.^[13]

In political matters regarding religion, Rotem continued to generate controversy. In 2013, he said in an interview that Reform rabbis were not rabbis,^[2] and in 2014 while head of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, Rotem was heard referring to the Jewish Reform movement as "another religion" and "not Jewish."^[14] The director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abe Foxman labelled Rotem's comments "inappropriate, offensive and unjustified," and demanded a quick and unequivocal apology to Reform Jews. When publication of the remark created an uproar, Rotem wrote to a critic: "Indeed, this comment was a mistake, and I intend to rectify it at the upcoming meeting of the committee on Sunday." The executive director of the Reform Movement in Israel, Gilad Kariv, he explained to Rotem why the term "another religion" was so disturbing to non-Orthodox Jews. "Beyond the obvious reasons, this is a legal term that appears in the Law of Return, where it says that a Jew who practices 'another religion' is not eligible for aliyah, and that is very significant," said Kariv.^[15] On the other hand, fellow Knesset member Uri Maklev defended Rotem against Reform Jewish pressure, saying, "The Reform movement persecutes the Jewish people and attempts to crushes it from within. ... They are the biggest enemy of the Jewish people and they cause assimilation. [The Reform movement's] tentacles are everywhere. They bribe politicians and the press. They have created an unprecedented pressure group."^[16]

In February 2014, a meeting between U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro and Knesset "Land of Israel" caucus members, which was supposed to be closed and off the record, was secretly recorded and leaked to the press. Rotem was quoted in the meeting as challenging the American ambassador. "How can we trust you?" Rotem demanded. "When have you stood by us in the past?" While then MK Reuven Rivlin joined Rotem in criticizing the American approach, others like MK Hilik Bar lamented the Knesset members' attacks on "the ambassador of our closest friend."^[17]

In August 2014 Rotem joined several other right-wing MKs in sponsoring a bill that would make Hebrew the only official language of Israel. Current law, which dates back to the British Mandate, requires that both Arabic and Hebrew be used in a wide variety of government functions, including the legal system and government ministries.^[18]

On 6 January 2015 Rotem announced that he planned to leave politics and would not contest the 2015 elections.^[19] He died at home from cardiac arrest on 8 June 2015.^[20]