This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/18/israel-cabinet-vote-unauthorised-settlements
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Israeli cabinet may get vote on legalising unauthorised settlements | Israeli cabinet may get vote on legalising unauthorised settlements |
| (6 months later) | |
| The Israeli cabinet may approve the legalisation of unauthorised Jewish settlement outposts in the West Bank, in a move likely to further damage peace prospects and result in censure from the international community. | The Israeli cabinet may approve the legalisation of unauthorised Jewish settlement outposts in the West Bank, in a move likely to further damage peace prospects and result in censure from the international community. |
| The prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has indicated his intention to put sections of a government-commissioned report to a cabinet vote. However, the attorney general is reported to be opposed to the move before next year's election. A spokesman for the prime minister said: "No decisions have been taken yet." | The prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has indicated his intention to put sections of a government-commissioned report to a cabinet vote. However, the attorney general is reported to be opposed to the move before next year's election. A spokesman for the prime minister said: "No decisions have been taken yet." |
| Netanyahu is believed to be under pressure from extreme rightwing pro-settler elements within his party, Likud, in the runup to the election on 22 January. Israel Radio reported that the prime minister had instructed the cabinet secretary to draft a motion endorsing sections of the 89-page Levy report, which was published in July. | Netanyahu is believed to be under pressure from extreme rightwing pro-settler elements within his party, Likud, in the runup to the election on 22 January. Israel Radio reported that the prime minister had instructed the cabinet secretary to draft a motion endorsing sections of the 89-page Levy report, which was published in July. |
| As well as calling for the legalisation of outposts, the report rejected international legal consensus that the West Bank was under Israeli military occupation. It said the fourth Geneva convention did not apply to the West Bank as it was not "foreign territory" under the sovereignty of another state. | As well as calling for the legalisation of outposts, the report rejected international legal consensus that the West Bank was under Israeli military occupation. It said the fourth Geneva convention did not apply to the West Bank as it was not "foreign territory" under the sovereignty of another state. |
| Critics warned that adoption of the report's conclusions would have damaging repercussions for Israel, further isolating it in the international arena and potentially killing off any chance of a resumption of talks with the Palestinians on a settlement of the decades-old conflict. | Critics warned that adoption of the report's conclusions would have damaging repercussions for Israel, further isolating it in the international arena and potentially killing off any chance of a resumption of talks with the Palestinians on a settlement of the decades-old conflict. |
| Netanyahu intends to limit the cabinet vote to practical recommendations dealing with the legalisation of outposts, building permits and land purchase, according to reports. | Netanyahu intends to limit the cabinet vote to practical recommendations dealing with the legalisation of outposts, building permits and land purchase, according to reports. |
| The prime minister established a three-strong panel, headed by a pro-settlement former supreme court judge, Edmond Levy, to examine unauthorised outposts in the West Bank, which are usually established by hardline, ideologically-driven settlers. Its conclusions contradicted those of a 2005 report that declared such colonies were illegal under Israeli law and should be demolished. Under international law, all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal. | The prime minister established a three-strong panel, headed by a pro-settlement former supreme court judge, Edmond Levy, to examine unauthorised outposts in the West Bank, which are usually established by hardline, ideologically-driven settlers. Its conclusions contradicted those of a 2005 report that declared such colonies were illegal under Israeli law and should be demolished. Under international law, all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal. |
| The report's publication fuelled opposition to the evacuation and demolition of two West Bank outposts, Migron and Ulpana, which were declared illegal by Israel's supreme court. Despite repeated delays by the government, both operations were eventually completed peacefully. | The report's publication fuelled opposition to the evacuation and demolition of two West Bank outposts, Migron and Ulpana, which were declared illegal by Israel's supreme court. Despite repeated delays by the government, both operations were eventually completed peacefully. |
| Netanyahu's drive to put the Levy report to a cabinet vote is viewed by some commentators as an attempt to prevent votes leaking from Likud to parties further to the right. Opinion polls taken since the election was called last week show the rightwing block is expected to emerge with a majority of parliament's 120 seats. Likud is likely to be the biggest party, although the possible formation of a new centre-left party could change predictions. | Netanyahu's drive to put the Levy report to a cabinet vote is viewed by some commentators as an attempt to prevent votes leaking from Likud to parties further to the right. Opinion polls taken since the election was called last week show the rightwing block is expected to emerge with a majority of parliament's 120 seats. Likud is likely to be the biggest party, although the possible formation of a new centre-left party could change predictions. |
| Netanyahu's position as leader of Likud is secure, but he is acutely aware of internal party pressures. Militant settlers have gained strength within Likud, scoring victories this year when several – including radical activists from hilltop outposts – were elected to the party's central committee and their leader, Moshe Feiglin, secured about 25% of votes in a challenge to Netanyahu for the party chairmanship. About 7% of Likud's 130,000 registered members live in West Bank settlements. | Netanyahu's position as leader of Likud is secure, but he is acutely aware of internal party pressures. Militant settlers have gained strength within Likud, scoring victories this year when several – including radical activists from hilltop outposts – were elected to the party's central committee and their leader, Moshe Feiglin, secured about 25% of votes in a challenge to Netanyahu for the party chairmanship. About 7% of Likud's 130,000 registered members live in West Bank settlements. |
| Netanyahu is also under pressure from smaller pro-settler parties to the right of Likud, which have called for the conclusions of the Levy report to be adopted. | Netanyahu is also under pressure from smaller pro-settler parties to the right of Likud, which have called for the conclusions of the Levy report to be adopted. |
| Both the centrist Kadima and the centre-left Labour party criticised the move to endorse sections of the report. The defence minister, Ehud Barak, also made clear his opposition, saying: "Adopting the report will not bolster the settlement in Judea and Samaria [the biblical name for the West Bank], it will merely undermine Israel's diplomacy efforts and further isolate Israel from the world." | Both the centrist Kadima and the centre-left Labour party criticised the move to endorse sections of the report. The defence minister, Ehud Barak, also made clear his opposition, saying: "Adopting the report will not bolster the settlement in Judea and Samaria [the biblical name for the West Bank], it will merely undermine Israel's diplomacy efforts and further isolate Israel from the world." |
| Tamar Feldman, of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, said: "The situation in the West Bank is neither normal nor legal, and any attempt to authorise or normalise it threatens the rule of law in the state of Israel." | Tamar Feldman, of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, said: "The situation in the West Bank is neither normal nor legal, and any attempt to authorise or normalise it threatens the rule of law in the state of Israel." |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |