Israel Matzav

You mean it was 'symbolic'?

Israel's Ministerial Legislative Committee voted 8-3 on Sunday to advance a bill to annex the Jordan Valley. Now, I've explained before why the Jordan Valley is not going to be annexed in the foreseeable future (even though it ought to be along with the rest of Judea and Samaria. Still, I never thought until now that the bill was actually 'symbolic.'

In a show of support for the Jordan Valley which the Palestinians claim should be an essential part of their state, the Ministerial Legislative Committee voted 8 to 3 to annex it to Israel.

Justice Minister Tizpi Livni (Hatenua) and three Yesh Atid politicians, Finance Minister Yair Lapid, Health Minister Yael German and Science and Technology Minister Yaakov Peri have all said they will appeal the vote.

Such an appeal places the matter directly into the hands of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, a move which many believes effectively kills the legislation, which can be revoted only with his approval.

The bill, which was sponsored by MK Miri Regev (Likud) had the support of ministers from her party as well as those from Yisrael Beiteinu and Bayit Yehudi.

Livni and Lapid accused the ministers of attempting to foil the peace talks with the Palestinians by supporting a bill that had no chance of passing.

“This is an irresponsible bill and those who support it are irresponsible,” said Livni.

“It is a proposal that harms the state of Israel and isolates it," she said. “It is also designed to harm the government because this is a matter of government policy and not [the subject] for a private bill," Livni said.

Does the Knesset still play a role in running this country? Or is it reduced to accepting the diktats of Netanyahu, Livni and Lapid? 

Labels: annexation, Binyamin Netanyahu, Jordan Valley, Miri Regev, Palestinian state RIGHT NOW syndrome, Tzipi Livni, Yair Lapid

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:44 PM