This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-vote-retroactively-settler-homes-private-palestinian-land-legal-settlements-west-bank-a7566451.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Israel votes to legalise thousands of settler homes built on private Palestinian land with unprecedented new law | Israel votes to legalise thousands of settler homes built on private Palestinian land with unprecedented new law |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| In a move widely condemned by Palestinians and the international community, Israel’s Knesset has voted to legalise thousands of ‘wildcat’ settlement homes build on private Palestinian land in the West Bank. | In a move widely condemned by Palestinians and the international community, Israel’s Knesset has voted to legalise thousands of ‘wildcat’ settlement homes build on private Palestinian land in the West Bank. |
| After more than a week of parliamentary discussion members of the Israeli parliament voted on the controversial legislation retroactively recognising 4,000 Jewish homes in 54 ‘outpost’ settlements late on Monday night. | After more than a week of parliamentary discussion members of the Israeli parliament voted on the controversial legislation retroactively recognising 4,000 Jewish homes in 54 ‘outpost’ settlements late on Monday night. |
| “We are voting tonight on our right to the land,” Cabinet minister Ofir Akunis said during a heated debate ahead of the late-night vote, which passed 60-52 in the 120-member Knesset. | “We are voting tonight on our right to the land,” Cabinet minister Ofir Akunis said during a heated debate ahead of the late-night vote, which passed 60-52 in the 120-member Knesset. |
| “We are voting tonight on the connection between the Jewish people and its land. This whole land is ours. All of it.” | “We are voting tonight on the connection between the Jewish people and its land. This whole land is ours. All of it.” |
| ‘Outpost’ or ‘wildcat’ settlements, as they are known, are built on Palestinian land without government permission. The international community, which views all Israeli building over the 1967 Green Line as illegitimate, does not recognise the distinction between outposts and regular settlements. | ‘Outpost’ or ‘wildcat’ settlements, as they are known, are built on Palestinian land without government permission. The international community, which views all Israeli building over the 1967 Green Line as illegitimate, does not recognise the distinction between outposts and regular settlements. |
| The vote, which marks the first time Israel has applied its own civil law to land it recognises as Palestinian-owned in the West Bank, is the latest in a string of bold pro-settlement steps the state has undertaken since US President Donald Trump took office last month. | The vote, which marks the first time Israel has applied its own civil law to land it recognises as Palestinian-owned in the West Bank, is the latest in a string of bold pro-settlement steps the state has undertaken since US President Donald Trump took office last month. |
| Thousands of new homes are slated for construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem now Barack Obama, who was critical of settlement building, has left office. Mr Trump is more sympathetic to Israeli interests, although his administration has blown hot and cold over the subject of settlements in the last week, warning the new legislation on outposts would not “be helpful” for the peace process. | Thousands of new homes are slated for construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem now Barack Obama, who was critical of settlement building, has left office. Mr Trump is more sympathetic to Israeli interests, although his administration has blown hot and cold over the subject of settlements in the last week, warning the new legislation on outposts would not “be helpful” for the peace process. |
| The US has not issued an official statement on Monday’s vote. The State Department later said “the Trump administration will withhold comment on the legislation until the relevant court ruling.” | The US has not issued an official statement on Monday’s vote. The State Department later said “the Trump administration will withhold comment on the legislation until the relevant court ruling.” |
| The legislation, which stipulates the original Palestinian owners of the land should be given either generous financial compensation or land elsewhere whether they agree to it or not, has been met with outrage by Palestinian representatives, who accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of “endangering” a two-state solution. | The legislation, which stipulates the original Palestinian owners of the land should be given either generous financial compensation or land elsewhere whether they agree to it or not, has been met with outrage by Palestinian representatives, who accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of “endangering” a two-state solution. |
| The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) has said the measure is “as good as a declaration of war.” | The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) has said the measure is “as good as a declaration of war.” |
| On Tuesday Palestinian Authority cabinet minister Rula Maayaa insisted that “nobody can legalise the theft of the Palestinian lands… I think it is time now for the international community to act concretely to stop the Israelis from these crimes.” | On Tuesday Palestinian Authority cabinet minister Rula Maayaa insisted that “nobody can legalise the theft of the Palestinian lands… I think it is time now for the international community to act concretely to stop the Israelis from these crimes.” |
| The explosive law, proposed by the right-wing Jewish Home party, is expected to trigger lawsuits and reach Israel’s Supreme Court. | The explosive law, proposed by the right-wing Jewish Home party, is expected to trigger lawsuits and reach Israel’s Supreme Court. |
| Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit reportedly told Mr Netanyahu earlier this month that he would not defend the legislation against the expected legal challenges because he believes it violates both Israeli and international law. | Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit reportedly told Mr Netanyahu earlier this month that he would not defend the legislation against the expected legal challenges because he believes it violates both Israeli and international law. |
| Mr Netanyahu himself - who missed the vote as he was travelling back from talks with Prime Minister Theresa May in London - is widely thought to have personal misgivings about the law, which is very popular with right wing Jewish Israeli voters, but has split the population more generally. | |
| Critics have warned it could drag Israel into a legal battle at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands, which is already pursuing a preliminary examination into settlements. | Critics have warned it could drag Israel into a legal battle at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands, which is already pursuing a preliminary examination into settlements. |
| Among the law's problematic elements is that the West Bank is not sovereign Israeli territory, and that Palestinians who live there are not citizens and therefore do not have the right to vote for the government that imposed the law on them. | Among the law's problematic elements is that the West Bank is not sovereign Israeli territory, and that Palestinians who live there are not citizens and therefore do not have the right to vote for the government that imposed the law on them. |
| Before the law passed, the UN’s Envoy for the Middle East peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, called on Israeli MKs to vote against the law, warning “it will have far-reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly diminish the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace.” | Before the law passed, the UN’s Envoy for the Middle East peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, called on Israeli MKs to vote against the law, warning “it will have far-reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly diminish the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace.” |