The passing of the Regulation Law in Knesset on Monday 10 Shevat has already been met with sharp international disapproval. The bill legalizes some 4,000 homes in yishuvim and outposts throughout Yehuda and Shomron. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu tried delaying the vote but it was held due to the insistence of coalition partner Bayit Yehudi.
France, Britain and Jordan have already spoken out strongly, expressing objections to the passage of the bill into law. Along with Turkey, they are calling on Jerusalem to take back the vote, to rescind the law – stating its passage marks the end of any hope for the two-state solution. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called on Israel to its honor international commitments.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the Prime Minister plans to express her objections in her meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is on an official state visit to that country.
Joining the above-mentioned opponents to the law, leaders of the Union for Reform Judaism expressed their opposition to the passing of the bill into law. Their leader, Rabbi Rick Jacobs called the move a “lose/lose policy that significantly undermines Israel’s democracy”.
The American Jewish Committee’s statement spoke of being “deeply disappointed”. J Street preferred terms including “outrageous” and “irresponsible”. National Director of the Anti-Defamation League Jonathan Greenblatt warned this passing of the bill will harm Israel’s image in the international community.
On the other side of the political spectrum, the Zionist Organization of America called the move “honorable and rationale”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
The question is do the “Settlers” Realize we are in Galut ( or Galus? Moshiach has not come yet! Otherwise there would be no need for such heavy security to keep the Jews of Israel from being massacred!
If the whole world is so biased against settlements and the new US president seems someone that Israel can work with – why can’t they wait just one more week for Netanyahu and Pres Trump to meet to see what can be worked out?!?!? There was a bad relationship with Pres Obama – do they want to create one now with Pres Trump?!?! Have they read the Talmud stories of the Sicarri that brought upon us the destruction of Jerusalem?!? Any lessons to learn?!? Hopefully everything will smooth over somehow!
#1 President Trump has clearly stated that building in the current settlements is NOT an impediment to peace. Israel should just continue building and start becoming a sovereign nation instead of the 51st State of the USA.
#1 agreed
Per Aguda and an article that appeared in Hamodia in 1951, the exile has ended with the establishment of the medina. The Lubavitcher Rebbe tz’l who hed that we are still in galut, said that we should settle all of Yehuda and Shomron primarily for pikuach nefesh to thwart off Arab violence and secondarily, to avoid Lo Techanem. Moshaich comes when he comes, but we are obligated in all mitzvoth that we can possibly do at all times.