BICOM

The Knesset is expected to vote on second and third readings of the controversial Regulation Bill today, despite suggestions that the Prime Minister wishes to delay the vote.

Israeli media reports, including in Haaretz and YNet suggest that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told cabinet members from his Likud Party yesterday that he wishes to postpone the vote until after his White House visit next week. The reports suggest that Netanyahu wishes to first clarify President Trump’s position on the legislation.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, whose Jewish Home party spearheaded the bill, rejected the possibility of postponing the vote, saying it would help “to avoid any further tragedies like Amona, and to ensure Jewish settlers can feel safe they will not find themselves one day facing eviction”. Last week, around 40 families were evicted from the West Bank outpost of Amona following a High Court order.

Netanyahu responded by accusing Bennett of issuing “phony ultimatums” without mentioning him by name. He said: “There are people who are busy with futile arguments in the media and social networks. I’m busy running the state. I think of our overall interest.”

The Regulation Bill, proposes to retroactively legalise a number of West Bank outposts built on private Palestinian land. The legislation will allow settlers the retroactive right to live in outposts which were established with government help. It is estimated that in its current form, the bill will legalise around 4,000 West Bank homes.

An initial vote in the Knesset in December was carried by 60 votes in favour and 49 against. Second and third readings are expected this evening, although the High Court is likely to uphold subsequent petitions against the legislation.

Also yesterday, the High Court granted a one-month extension on the evacuation of nine buildings in the West Bank settlement of Ofra, which it ruled were built without permits on privately owned Palestinian land. The new deadline for evacuation is now 5 March.