BICOM

Labour MK Hilik Bar yesterday proposed a bill prohibiting the annexation of any part of the West Bank outside the framework of a peace deal, in a direct riposte to a legislative attempt earlier this week by right-wing MKs to annex the Jordan Valley.

On Sunday, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill proposed by Likud MK Miri Regev which would place the Jordan Valley under Israeli law, a move which would further complicate current peace talks. Regev argued that the Jordan Valley “must stay in our hands” as a “strategic and security asset” and her bill was backed by the Likud-Beitenu and Jewish Home committee members. However, it was virulently opposed by members representing Yesh Atid and Hatnuah, whose leader Tzipi Livni called it “an irresponsible bill.”

Bar’s bill which will be discussed by the same ministerial committee on Sunday and the Knesset plenum next Wednesday states that the final status of the West Bank (excluding Jerusalem) “will be determined only in the framework of an agreement that arranges ‘two states for two peoples’.” The Labour Party said annexing the Jordan Valley would “sabotage Israel in the diplomatic negotiations” and damage relations with the United States. Bar’s bill has received the unanimous support of Labour Party MKs and representatives from Meretz and Shas.

Although neither Regev’s nor Bar’s bill are likely to become law, they underscore the increasing importance of the Jordan Valley in peace negotiations. US Secretary of State John Kerry presented a plan for security arrangements last month which included a continued but limited Israeli security presence in the Jordan Valley, an idea rejected by the Palestinians. Kerry will return to Israel today for further talks with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Kerry is expected to present both with a proposed framework to serve as a guideline for addressing all core issues, facilitating an extension to talks beyond the April deadline already agreed.