A bill to legalize Jewish communities inadvertently built on land that was privately owned by Arabs from the Palestinian Authority has passed its first reading in the Knesset plenum.
Known as the Regulations Bill, the law is intended to put an end to the endless controversies over some 3,200 homes within existing communities built on land allegedly privately owned PA Arabs. Most were built at least a generation ago, some even more.
Lots with registered title deeds or which can be registered would transfer to the Custodian of Abandoned Properties until a resolution to the conflict is reached. Until that time, Israel would pay the owner/s of the lot a financial compensation of 125 percent of the value of the property – or would instead offer an alternative lot in exchange.
The bill has been tweaked and tweaked again in order to gain enough support to ensure its passage through the Knesset despite opposition by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who expressed concern it won’t withstand international legal scrutiny.
The measure, opposed by Likud MK Benny Begin, passed by a vote of 58-51 and, as an application of Israeli law to territory, is seen by many analysts as a first step towards annexation of Area C.
It must still pass two more readings in the Knesset plenum before it becomes law, and then must withstand an appeal in the High Court of Justice.