Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed a bill on Monday that aims to legalize settlements on Palestinian land, local media reported. The bill proposes to give rights on privately owned Palestinian land that settlements have been built on, to the Commissioner of Government Property, while the Palestinian owners would get some sort of compensation in return.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was against the bill being passed right now as he wanted to wait until after his meeting with US President Donald Trump on February 15. Furthermore, he returned from the UK promptly after finding out that the bill passed in the Knesset.
The leader of the opposition, Isaac Herzog, was very critical of the bill, saying: “Our opposition to the bill stems from our opposition to annexation. It does not stem from the problem that there is a nation of residents (in the West Bank) or that there are communities (in the West Bank), but rather with the entry of thousands of Palestinians into the Jewish State.”
The bill passed a second and third reading, but still needs approval of the country’s High Court of Justice, which may be difficult to get.
Israel was strongly criticized by the UN for building settlements on Palestinian territories. In December, then US President-elect Donald Trump said that the US will start protecting Israel’s interests. However, last week, the White House indicated no firm policy has been determined on settlements.
Image: EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS