The passing of the Regulation Bill to legalize Amona passed its preliminary reading in Knesset on Wednesday 15 Cheshvan has led to an escalation of tensions between Likud and the Bayit Yehudi party. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday during the weekly cabinet meeting, tried to persuade Bayit Yehudi ministers to hold off moving ahead with the bill, warning of its ramifications.

Sources in the coalition accuse Bayit Yehudi leader Bennett of acting contrary to the coalition’s good, blaming him for not permitting Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue leading the battle. The same sources accuse Bennett of simply trying to gain political points at the expense of the coalition, insisting Mr. Netanyahu is leading the national camp and continues doing what can be done to save Amona.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)