Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., June 30, 2008 Sivan 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:51 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

MKs prepare bills making it harder to cede land By Shahar Ilan and Eli Ashkenazi The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee will tour East Jerusalem today to prepare for the first reading of a bill requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority to transfer control or authority in the capital. In another move to reinforce East Jerusalem's status as Israeli territory, the Knesset is expected to vote tomorrow on a bill requiring a referendum before any area of the state is given up, with a focus also on the Golan. Advertisement According to the referendum bill, conceding any Israeli sovereign territory would require a referendum, elections or a majority decision of 80 MKs. Although the bill would be a revolution in Israel's legislative system, few MKs were at the debate, and only four spoke. Tomorrow's vote on the referendum bill is expected to take place around the time of a no-confidence vote, in which many MKs would be present. The bill is expected to pass by a large majority, supported by most of the coalition, including Labor and right-wing parties. Kadima is allowing its MKs to vote their conscience, coalition chair MK Eli Aflalo said Wednesday. Aflalo said he supported the referendum bill and was opposed to withdrawing from the Golan. The need for a referendum before territory is given up appears in the Golan Law, although legislation requiring a referendum must still be passed. The referendum bill is moving ahead more quickly than the Jerusalem bill because the former is being discussed in a committee headed by MK David Tal (Kadima), who supports it. The Jerusalem bill is under discussion in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, whose chair, MK Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima), opposes it. Another question is how the two-thirds clause on Jerusalem conforms to the referendum bill. According to that bill, if conceding territory is approved by 80 MKs, no referendum is necessary. If both bills are passed, a situation could be created whereby concessions on Jerusalem are approved by a referendum, but not by a majority of 80 MKs, and therefore would not be valid. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Wimbledon shocker Shahar Peer knocks out 9th-seed Safina to slide into the fourth round. Time to hit Iran Israel must destroy Iran's nuclear program within one year or risk being attacked.

Read & React German prof.: Israeli athletes willfully sacrificed themselves in Munich massacre Responses: 158 Cabinet approves Hezbollah prisoner exchange Responses: 199 Harel and Issacharoff: Five myths about prisoner swaps Responses: 49 Former Israeli spymaster: Israel has one year to bomb Iran Responses: 146 More Headlines 02:01 Sources: Hezbollah swap likely by Lebanon war anniversary 00:19 Captive soldier's mother: I won't feel at ease until I hold my son 01:22 Bar-On: If we cede Kuntar, Barghouti will be next 19:55 Hezbollah: Approval of swap deal shows our word is supreme 20:37 What does it mean? An outline of the prisoner exchange deal 00:26 First rabbis ordained in Poland since the Holocaust 14:07 Israeli film wins people's choice award at Moscow Film Festival 15:45 Hamas won't recognize Abbas presidency past January 2009 00:57 Postal Authority to rescind decision to lay off 150 workers 16:27 Former Israeli spymaster: We have year to hit Iran nukes 21:21 Sheldon Adelson - Jewish philanthropist or meddler in Israel's affairs? 13:30 VIDEO: Amy Winehouse's explosive performance at Glastonbury Previous Editions Select Day 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun

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