Israel Matzav

Bill to protect human rights of 'evacuees'

In a few weeks, it will be seven years since the Jewish residents of Gaza were expelled from their homes. Seven years later, many of them are still refugees, without permanent homes and jobs, and now without money. One of the major concerns regarding the residents of the Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El, who were expelled from their homes last month, was that they would God forbid meet a similar fate. National Union leader Yaakov Katz has introduced a bill in the Knesset to ensure that cannot happen. The bill is supported by Shas and United Torah Judaism, and support is being sought from other parties in the coalition. The bill protects the human rights of 'evacuees.'

“The Bill to Protect Human Rights of Evacuees” seeks to make the government responsible for ensuring the preservation of settlers’ “basic human rights and the fabric of their lives.”

If peace talks or other arrangements require that outposts, neighborhoods or whole settlements be demolished, the government would have to provide equivalent homes and neighborhoods.

Among the government’s responsibilities would be building schools, religious services and infrastructure, including electricity, phone lines, water, sewage and roads.

Anyone whose home was demolished must be given employment opportunities with a salary similar to what he or she earned previously.

Should the bill pass, evacuees who do not find work can collect unemployment payments for up to 24 months.

In addition, the Finance Ministry would be required to increase the Welfare and Social Services Ministry’s budget to fund care for the evacuees.

The bill only applies to structures that were built with approval from government ministries.

Katz plans to submit the bill this week, in the hope that it will be brought to a preliminary vote before the Knesset summer session ends on July 31. Lawmakers from Shas and United Torah Judaism have co-signed the legislation, and Katz is working to garner support from Likud, Kadima and Habayit Hayehudi MKs that previously backed his outpost legislation.

Though the bill is not expected to pass, sources in National Union said they plan to launch a public battle over it similar to the lead-up to Katz’s failed Outpost Bill last month, calling out right-wing MKs who do not promise their support.

What's left unsaid here (but should be obvious) is that if the bill passes it will become much more expensive to expel people from their homes. There was talk about building housing for those expelled from Gaza during the 2004-05 run-up to the expulsion, but it never happened. Under Katz's bill, there would have to be housing and jobs in order for an expulsion to happen. That's enough to make any government think twice about doing it. But it would also make sure that we don't turn our brothers into refugees.

Labels: Gaza expulsion, Jewish refugees, Yaakov Katz

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:50 PM