Habayit Hayehudi threatens coalition crisis over outpost bill - Mati Tuchfeld and Efrat Forsher

by Mati Tuchfeld and Efrat Forsher

"We have stated in no uncertain terms that if this bill doesn't pass, no other bill will pass," MK Bezalel Smotrich warns • Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan says work on bill will progress as usual • Defense minister: We have to act responsibly.

Habayit Hayehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich | Photo credit: Oren Ben Hakoon

Habayit Hayehudi on Wednesday threatened a coalition crisis unless the outpost regulation bill which would allow the government to retroactively legalize contested outposts in Judea and Samaria, moves ahead.

The controversial legislation passed its preliminary reading in November, but coalition faction heads then agreed not to advance the bill further. However, Habayit Hayehudi MKs are demanding that the bill be prepared for further readings in the Knesset.

Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan insisted that work on the bill will progress as usual, while MK Bezalel Smotrich warned of a political crisis.

"We have stated in no uncertain terms that if this bill doesn't pass, no other bill will pass," Smotrich said. "The entire coalition is responsible for this bill; I can't believe the coalition would renege on it. I was forced to align myself on laws many times, even if I disagreed with them. If everyone votes for whatever they wants, the coalition would be unable to function. This is a sure recipe for the collapse of the coalition and election proceedings." 

The commotion over the bill was sparked earlier this week when Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, speaking at an Yisrael Beytenu meeting, said the bill had essentially been shelved. 

"I can only speak for myself, [but] this bill is not right," he said. "As you know, the bill has yet to pass and it will never pass. This was apparently the straw that broke the camel's back for [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama, and we took a hit in the Security Council, so we must be serious and responsible." 

Mati Tuchfeld and Efrat Forsher

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=39519

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