Israel passes law legalizing thousands of settlement homes

[brassmonkey]

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's parliament on Monday passed a contentious law meant to retroactively legalize thousands of West Bank settlement homes built unlawfully on private Palestinian land, a step that is expected to trigger international outrage and a flurry of lawsuits against the measure.



The explosive law is the latest in a series of pro-settler steps taken by Israel's hard-line government since the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. He is seen as more sympathetic to Israel's settlement policies than his fiercely critical predecessor, and the Israeli government has approved plans to build thousands of new homes on occupied territory since Trump took office.

"We are voting tonight on our right to the land," Cabinet minister Ofir Akunis said during a stormy debate ahead of the vote. "We are voting tonight on the connection between the Jewish people and its land. This whole land is ours. All of it."

Critics say the legislation enshrines into law the theft of Palestinian land, and it is expected to be challenged in Israel's Supreme Court. According to the law, Palestinian landowners would be compensated either with money or alternative land, even if they did not agree to give up their property.

The vote passed 60-52 in Israel's 120-member Knesset following a raucous debate in which opposition lawmakers shouted from their seats at governing coalition lawmakers speaking in favor of the vote from the dais. Some legislators supportive of the law took pictures of the plenum during the vote while some spectators in visitors' seats raised black cloth in apparent protest.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had voiced misgivings about the law in the lead-up to vote, reportedly expressing concern that it could lead to international censure and saying he wanted to coordinate with the Trump administration before moving ahead on a vote.

He told reporters on a trip to London that he had updated Washington and was ready to move ahead with the law. He was on his way back from the trip and was not present for the vote. The White House's immediate response was to refer to its statement last week that said the construction of new settlements "may not be helpful" in achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Netanyahu's attorney general has called the bill unconstitutional and said he won't defend it in the Supreme Court. Critics have warned it could drag Israel into a legal battle at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands, which is already pursuing a preliminary examination into settlements.

Among the law's problematic elements is that the West Bank is not sovereign Israeli territory and that Palestinians who live there are not citizens and do not have the right to vote for the government that imposed the law on them.

Palestinians condemned the law. "This is an escalation that would only lead to more instability and chaos. It is unacceptable. It is denounced and the international community should act immediately," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Netanyahu faced intense pressure from within his nationalist coalition, especially from the pro-settler Jewish Home party, to press ahead with the vote following the court-ordered evacuation last week of the illegal Amona outpost found to have been built on private Palestinian land. Over 40 settler families were forced to leave the 20-year-old outpost, and on Monday construction vehicles demolished and removed the trailer homes that remained behind.

Opposition legislators said Netanyahu's support for the law was a high-stakes risk meant solely to curry favor with settler constituents and their potent political lobby. "For how many settler votes is Netanyahu willing to pass a law that he admits will drag us to The Hague?" Zehava Galon, leader of the dovish Meretz party, wrote on Facebook ahead of the vote. "The prime minister declares that the legalization bill is dangerous for Israel and instead of standing on his hind legs to stop this shameful law, he presses ahead with it."

After years of condemnations from the Obama administration over settlement construction, Israel's government has ramped up settlement initiatives since Trump took office, announcing plans for some 6,000 new homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem and promising to build a new settlement for the Amona evacuees.

Trump has signaled a far more accepting approach to settlements, raising hopes in Netanyahu's government that it will be able to step up construction. The White House said little as Netanyahu announced plans during Trump's first two weeks in office to build over 6,000 new settler homes. But after Netanyahu announced his plan to establish a new settlement for the first time in two decades, Trump indicated that he, too, might have his limits.

"While we don't believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal," the White House said.

The Palestinians want the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip - territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war - for their future state. Much of the international community views settlements as illegal and an obstacle to reaching peace with the Palestinians. Shortly before leaving office, President Barack Obama allowed the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution declaring settlements illegal. Obama cited the Israeli outpost legislation as a reason for not vetoing the resolution.

Before the law passed, the U.N. Mideast envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, called on lawmakers to vote against the law, saying that "it will have far-reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly diminish the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace."

article...

[oppoten]

gas gas gas

[JohnnyClips - BANNED FOR LIFE]

I don't like either israel or palestine

[directfiesta]

It is not terrorist that are taking advantage of the suspension of the ban , it is Israel stealing land while the WH and Trump are busy elsewhere ....

I am sure this will diminish the terrorist threat ....

[Barry-xlovecam]

Emperor of America and the King of Israel shake on the deal ...

[oppoten]

^ hitler only wanted to expel the jews appreciation society

[oppoten]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

[Barry-xlovecam]

^^^ troll triggered

[j3rkules]

In 1951 Israel signed and accepted the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV) when they viewed it (especially Article 49) as benefiting their survival as a state. Now they don't feel bound by GC IV. When they lose a future conflict--which all states do--they will scream that they are covered by GC IV.

[baddog]

Unlawfully? Not so much

[Barry-xlovecam]

They won't be the only loser.
They will use their reputed 200 nuclear bombs in the final play ...
No one invades a nuclear armed country.



Playing both ends against the middle

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

They won't be the only loser.
They will use their reputed 200 nuclear bombs in the final play ...
No one invades a nuclear armed country.

Imagine that reality yikes!

[estamina]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

They won't be the only loser.
They will use their reputed 200 nuclear bombs in the final play ...
No one invades a nuclear armed country.



Playing both ends against the middle

what will destroy israel is israel itself, mark my word "2022" is the end

[slavdogg]

they should take the kid gloves off and take more land..

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by slavdogg

they should take the kid gloves off and take more land..

when the super powers end ties they are toast

[oppoten]

Originally Posted by estamina

what will destroy israel is whitey winning the next and final war

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

gas the kykes, race war now

[Jigster715]

Israeli police say they have enough to indict Netanyahu on a long list of crimes. But will they?

Netanyahu scandals reflect corruption at the heart of Israeli society – Mondoweiss

[slavdogg]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

when the super powers end ties they are toast

Israel does not need super powers, they can protect themselves.
Any in any case with friends like the EU who needs enemies.

[slavdogg]

Originally Posted by Jigster715

Israeli police say they have enough to indict Netanyahu on a long list of crimes. But will they?

Netanyahu scandals reflect corruption at the heart of Israeli society ? Mondoweiss

Keep in mind a large immigration from Soviet Union has turned Israel into a right wing society for the most part. Getting rid of Netanyahu will bring in a more of a right wing leader. Go Bibi !

[Rochard]

Originally Posted by baddog

Unlawfully? Not so much

Yes, unlawfully. Israel does not legally own the territory it is building on.

[oppoten]

^ even Rochard's a shitlord. Time's up juden.

[Jigster715]

Originally Posted by slavdogg

Keep in mind a large immigration from Soviet Union has turned Israel into a right wing society for the most part. Getting rid of Netanyahu will bring in a more of a right wing leader. Go Bibi !

Thats a scary thought. Israel is doomed then. As is much of the region.

[Paul Markham]

Israel is little better than all the other racist States in the ME.

[oppoten]

We don't tellywone.

Well done everyone!

[Barry-xlovecam]

It's a wind 'em up world ...
There is a Palestinian State it's called Jordan (formerly Transjordan). It has a Hashemite King that the British former empire installed after WW1. Read a history book idiots!

Hussein bin Ali had five sons: Ali, who briefly succeeded to the throne of Hejaz before its loss to the Saud family in 1925. Abdullah, became the amir of Transjordan in 1921 and king of Jordan in 1946, and whose descendants continue to rule the kingdom known ever since as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

[NewNick]

Originally Posted by oppoten

gas gas gas

You are a real scumbag.

[Barry-xlovecam]

oppoten is a total idiot he's on permanent ignore here.
Nazi wannabe troll. Fuck you you POS

[Sarn]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

oppoten is a total idiot he's on permanent ignore here.
Nazi wannabe troll. Fuck you you POS

Awoke When this ideology come to you

[Matt-ADX]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

^^^ troll triggered

How can a troll be triggered? Stop saying triggered I don't think I have seen you use it correctly once.

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by oppoten

gas gas gas

I don't think there is any gas or oil in the west bank.

[Barry-xlovecam]

Ukrainians troll you good

Yeah, they were the guards in the camps ... collaborators (some)

[Barry-xlovecam]

Suck on an exhaust pipe you neo-nazi piece of shit.

[Matt-ADX]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

Suck on an exhaust pipe you neo-nazi piece of shit.

Who are you talking to?

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by oppoten

racist idiot

[Sarn]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

Ukrainians troll you good

You support neo nazi against russians but not against jews?
ok i understand you))

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

Yeah, they were the guards in the camps ... collaborators (some)

this "some" - modern national heroes in ukraine

[Barry-xlovecam]

Don't put words in my mouth chump.
When you take land from a county and invade them what do you expect -- thin skinned one.

Russia is a huge country (land area) and greedy for more land (proven fact).

You mad bro ...

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

aright thanks for the info!!

[AtlantisCash]

fucking bastards, destroy the whole fucking planet with your bs ideologies from boath sides then we are all good.

greater Israel, greater bla bla

[Relic]

[Matt 26z]

While Israel may not technically be correct to develop these lands, it's better than having mudslime slums.

[pimpmaster9000]

its never a problem when the whites do it...no matter what it is

[danep]

Not passed yet, and will be rejected by the supreme court. Not all Israeli's are blood thirsty by the way

[Relic]

Originally Posted by danep

Not all Israeli's are blood thirsty by the way