Dividing Jerusalem just got a little harder
The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation just decided tonight to give the government’s back to the Golan Heights & Jerusalem Bill so the bill will probably be probably be back in the Knesset plenum in the near future. Here is the Jerusalem Post link but I will quote from the Arutz Sheva’s report as the pertinent details are much clearer.
(IsraelNN.com) The Ministerial Committee for Legislation decided Tuesday to give the government’s backing to a bill proposed by MK Yariv Levin (Likud) requiring that a national referendum be held if the government ever intends to cede land under Israeli sovereignty.The law is seen as being primarily relevant with regard to the eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, which are under full Israeli sovereignty. The Knesset passed laws annexing eastern Jerusalem and the Golan in 1980 and 1981, respectively.
If the government wishes to make a deal to surrender these areas, according to the proposed law, a referendum must be called within 180 days of the initial agreement – and any deal would be contingent on its passing the referendum. In order to avoid the referendum, 80 MKs would have to approve the deal.
Initially, this bill was introduced and sponsored by two Kadima MK’s from the last Knesset session who were worried former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was ready to give away everything under the sun but a few acres of Tel Aviv beachfront.
Joe’s not happy and refers to the bill as ’sick’. Under normal circumstances I would agree with Joe but given the realities of Israel’s current political leadership; I think this bill is the best which can be hoped for under the circumstances. May a referendum never be held or the 80 MK vote ceiling never be reached.
