BICOM

The Knesset last night approved second and third readings of the controversial Regulation Bill, which retroactively legalises some West Bank homes built on private Palestinian land.

The legislation, which was spearheaded by Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home party, had initially been treated cautiously by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, yesterday’s vote, which was carried by 60 votes to 52 in favour of the bill, followed party lines almost exactly, with Likud MK Benny Begin the only coalition member voting against the legislation.

Welcoming the vote, Jewish Home head Bennett said their determination “paid off”.

He added: “To our friends in the opposition who are surprised that a nationalist government would pass a bill in favour of the settlements – that’s democracy”.

Ahead of the vote, opposition leader, Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog told the plenum: “This vote is not about whether we are with or against the settlers, it’s about what the State of Israel needs… this government is passing a bill that is an acute danger to the State of Israel.”

Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid said that the legislation was politically-motivated and that it “will endanger IDF soldiers, will endanger Israel’s international standing, will endanger our being a state of law and order”.

The new law retroactively could legalises as many as 4,000 West Bank homes built on private Palestinian land, either unknowingly or with government help. The rights to land use will be transferred to the Commissioner of Government Property in the West Bank. Palestinian landowners will have the choice of compensation amounting to a sum exceeding the land’s rental worth, or receive alternative plots.

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has already told reporters he will not defend the legislation if challenged in court, calling it unconstitutional. Such a challenge appears inevitable with Peace Now, Yesh Din and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel all announcing their intention to turn to the courts.