While the Bayit Yehudi party continues pushing legislation to annex Maale Adumim, the Ministerial Law Committee vote on the bill was delayed on Tuesday 16 Adar until Sunday, following the visit of Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for International Negotiations. The vote will take place after the senior US advisor leaves.

MKs Yoav Kisch (Likud) and Betzalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi) stand behind the bill, which has widespread support. According to a Channel 10 News report, coalition chairman David Bitan asked Bayit Yehudi to permit the vote to be delayed until after Greenblatt’s visit.

The request was turned down but on Tuesday, the agreed prior to the committee vote, aware such an even while Greenblatt is visiting in an official capacity could lead to friction with the new US administration.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)