The Israeli coalition government faces a new crisis after losing a vote on West Bank settlements on Monday occupied, in which the opposition prevented the renewal of a historic law that extends Israeli law to settlers.
The Executive of Naftali Benet obtained only 52 votes from a Chamber of 120, of which 58 voted against the renewal of this rule, which for decades has been extended every five years with broad support from Parliament and which is essential for the operation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
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This defeat could have a strong impact given that Gideon Saar, Minister of Justice and leader of one of the right-wing factions of the coalition, had anticipated that he saw this vote as a test for the future of the Government, something that many interpreted as an ultimatum on his permanence and that of his party.
If his departure is indeed finalized and both his party and those who make up the opposition support a motion of censure against the Executive, Israel could soon find itself doomed to new elections.
Since the formation of the current coalition, almost a year ago and made up of parties from across the political spectrum, it has had serious problems when approving measures related to the conflict with the Palestinians, something that happened again this Monday due to the negative vote by two of its parliamentarians belonging to Israel’s Arab minority.
This defeat in Parliament represents a new blow and a new crisis for the Executive, which in recent months has survived multiple attempts by the opposition to overthrow it after losing the majority in April with the defection of a far-right deputy.
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Beyond the political consequences of this Monday’s vote, In practice, the non-renewal of this rule could cause serious damage to the Israeli settlements. This, however, could still be avoided since the Knéset (Parliament) has time to approve it until the end of the month, something that analysts believe will happen without major inconveniences.
A large percentage of the parliamentarians who spoke out against extending the norm are members of right-wing or nationalist parties that support Israeli colonies and have even advocated annexing them, so their vote was not ideological but rather had the objective of bringing down the Government.
By extending Israeli civil and criminal law to settlements, this rule gives settlers the right to vote and allows them, among other things, to obtain social security and serve in the Army.
In addition, it makes it possible to avoid the application in the colonies – where nearly half a million Jews live – of the Israeli military law that governs the almost three million Palestinians who reside in the rest of the West Bank, militarily occupied by Israel since the War of the Six Days in 1967.
EFE
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