The Regulation Bill designed to retroactively legalize Amona and other communities throughout Yehuda and Shomron passed its preliminary reading in Knesset on Wednesday, 15 Cheshvan in a 58 to 50 vote. Following the successful preliminary vote, the bill moves to the Knesset Law Committee where it will be prepared for final votes.

Opposition MKs vow to topple the bill when it is presented for its additional votes. The bill is intended to retroactively legalize Amona and other communities in Yehuda and Shomron by circumventing the High Court of Justice ruling compelling the eviction and destruction of Amona by December 25, 2016.

While he threatened to vote against it, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and his Kulanu party backed the bill after the details were explained. This does not mean however that the party will back the bill in its final readings. The same holds true for Likud MK Benny Begin, who told the press this week it is a bad law and he is opposed to it. Among Begin’s concerns is that the passing of the bill will result in Israel being challenged in the international arena including the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

For the dati leumi Bayit Yehudi party, the bill may be a deal-breaker, aware that if it does not push it through or alternatively bring down the coalition, it will pay the price at the polls in the next elections.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)