Land Bills
This bit of Israeli legislation should be throwing the Obama administration into a full-panic mode for their Israeli-Palestinian policy. Jerusalem Post
The Knesset took a step closer toward requiring a referendum that could make territorial concessions in the capital and the Golan Heights more difficult, when it voted Wednesday to waive an initial reading of the Golan Heights and Jerusalem Referendum Bill.
The bill now goes for further processing in committee, after which it would need to pass second and third readings in the plenum, a procedure that could take several months. Polls have shown that, were such a referendum mandatory, there would be strong opposition to concessions in Jerusalem and the Golan.
The bill would require that any return of land under the administration and judicial authority of the State of Israel pass a national referendum, as well as a government decision and Knesset approval. The bill does, however, offer the government a way out – in the event that the concession passes the Knesset by a two-thirds majority, or if within 180 days after the Knesset okays the government decision, a general election is held.
Netanyahu and the Likud Coalition’s continued support of the Golan Heights and Jerusalem Bill will continue to allow – not only Bibi’s government but any future government of Israel to be able to resist any pressure brought to bear against any unilateral withdraws from either the Golan or Jerusalem by any outside party.
