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Israel moves to legalize unauthorized settlements

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat visited Amona on Nov. 13 to advocate for the so-called 'legalization bill'. (Hillel Maeir/TPS)

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat visited Amona on Nov. 13 to advocate for the so-called ‘legalization bill’. (Hillel Maeir/TPS)

JERUSALEM — A controversial bill to legalize some unauthorized West Bank outposts, especially targeting Amona, was approved by a Knesset committee.

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation advanced the Regulation Bill on Sunday, Nov. 13, to the full parliament. It was expected to pass its first of three readings in the Knesset plenum later this week.

The US State Department announced Monday that it was “concerned” over the progress of the law.

The measure was sponsored by the Jewish Home party in an effort to save Amona, which Israel’s Supreme Court has determined was built on private Palestinian property and ordered demolished by Dec. 25.

Under the bill, the government would pay the Palestinian landowners large sums of money and give them new property in exchange for their land.

Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked brought the bill to the committee over the objections of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Oct. 31, the State Attorney’s Office asked for a delay of seven months from the Dec. 25 deadline to evacuate Amona, saying it could not arrange alternative housing for the residents before the target date.

The government indicated at the time of the request that it would go ahead with the demolition of the settlement on time if required.

The request was denied.

Residents of Amona said that they will build a tent city to house the thousands of people they say will be an evacuated.

The residents spoke Monday, Nov. 14, before the start of a protest meeting in reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision.

“We call on Netanyahu, 40 families and 200 children . . . their lives are in your hands,” said Avichai Boaron, a leader of the Amona residents.

“If you fulfill your task, we will all stand up and salute you. If you betray it, we will stand as a fortified wall, along with our supporters from across the country who will come here to protest the evacuation.”

On Monday, Nov. 14, opposition leader Isaac Herzog stirred controversy by using the word “virus” in an interview about the measure, with some critics believing he was referencing the settlers.

“I understand the pain of the families, but [the Supreme Court] gave them two years to clear out, and look what this virus has done to the State of Israel and how dangerous it is to democracy because of this nonsense,” Herzog told Army Radio.

Netanyahu called on Herzog to apologize.

“I can’t believe Herzog used the term ‘virus’ in connection with settlers. They are flesh of our flesh, serve in the army, contribute to the country. Bouji, apologize immediately,” Netanyahu wrote, using Herzog’s nickname, on Twitter and Facebook.

Herzog later clarified on Twitter that he believes the controversial bill is the virus and called the settlers “brothers.”

“The Amona bill is the virus. A dangerous virus for the court and democracy. The settlers are our brothers and I will care for them more than you lie to them,” he wrote.



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