Beginning of annexation? ‘Norms’ law gains support
May 2, 2016A proposal by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) to apply Israeli law on citizens living in Judea and Samaria appears to be gaining momentum.
If passed, the “Norms bill” would place Israeli citizens living beyond the Green Line under Israeli law, ending the army’s authority over citizens residing in the area.
Currently, Israelis living in Judea and Samaria are under the authority of the army’s GOC Southern Command. Laws passed by the Knesset do not apply past the Green Line, but are instead enacted by the IDF, though not all Israeli laws are adopted by the GOC.
Shaked, who says the bill will equalize the legal system for all Israelis, hopes to implement the plan within a year.
A similar proposal was pushed by Likud and Jewish Home MKs in the past, but was blocked by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and then-Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.
The current bill, however, may be on its way to passing. On Monday NRG reported that Danny Efroni, the recently retired Chief Military Advocate General, had endorsed the plan in a letter to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit.
The five-page document appears to be part of a larger effort to win Mandelblit’s support – or at least prevent a repeat of his predecessor’s open opposition to the bill.
A number of Likud MKs have expressed their support for the proposal, including Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan, and Minister of Immigration Ze’ev Elkin.
While some have argued that the move effectively constitutes annexation, Elkin denied such claims.
“This isn’t annexation. Even though personally I think we should begin a staged annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria, that has nothing to do with the ‘Norms bill’; this is about the rights of citizens.”
Elkin noted that the proposal would simply extend the government’s obligations to its citizens regardless of where they were located, but would not apply Israeli law in toto to the territory itself.
“Some of the laws will be applied to the Palestinians, like the regulations regarding women in the work place. But just as the state’s obligations to citizens don’t apply to them, its logical that [laws regarding] such rights not be applied.”
MK Zehava Gal-On, however, has insisted that the proposal is a clear attempt to effect “de facto annexation”.
Former Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who had opposed the previous “Norms bill” blasted the new proposal, claiming it was the first step towards full annexation of Judea and Samaria.
“The right-wing government is quietly beginning the process of annexation in order to impose its ideology. The final result will be the collapse of the two-state idea, the imposition of two legal systems in one state, mass international pressure, and in the end, 2.5 million Palestinians with the right to vote for the Knesset.”
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...