Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 01, 2008 Sivan 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:43 (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

Last update - 07:29 29/06/2008 MKs prepare for bills making it harder to cede parts of Jerusalem By Shahar Ilan and Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Israel, East Jerusalem The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee will tour East Jerusalem Sunday 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 Monday on a bill requiring a referendum before any area of the state is given up, with a focus also on the Golan. According to the referendum bill, conceding any Israeli sovereign territory would require a referendum, elections or a majority decision of 80 MKs. Advertisement Although the bill would be a revolution in Israel's legislative system, few MKs were at the debate, and only four spoke. Monday'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   Death penalty Iran hands down death sentence to man who spied for Israel. Robot hospital The place where IDF treats droids wounded in the line of fire.   1.   Israel will have to continue depending on state racist-terrorism 03:35  |  anti-racist 29/06/08   2.   A Supermajority and Referendum? 06:15  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/06/08   3.   anti-racist 06:45  |  OBSERVER 29/06/08   4.   Mark of Lewiston 06:50  |  OBSERVER 29/06/08   5.   Law 07:15  |  reader 29/06/08   6.   Jerusalem is Jewish and will remain Jewish. 08:40  |  Jean Van Daem 29/06/08   7.   OBSERVER # 3 - FACTS 08:56  |  The Threadmill 29/06/08   8.   Observer - Yes, We Do 09:23  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/06/08   9.   When will Arabs learn...... 09:28  |  Natasha 29/06/08   10.   Observer - Which is it? 09:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/06/08   11.   The Law and Justice Committee...... 09:44  |  Dagma 29/06/08   12.   Samuel Got it All Wrong? 09:50  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/06/08   13.   Jeez, I really do need a New Bible 10:04  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/06/08   14.   Jerusalem will be the capital of any future Palestinian state 10:21  |  Voice of Palestine 29/06/08   15.   To reader $ 5 - Law and Facts 10:33  |  Dogma 29/06/08   16.   There will never be an Arab/ Palestine ... 11:04  |  Onlooker 29/06/08   17.   #14 the present capital of palestine is amman 11:18  |  victor hardman 29/06/08   18.   What the bills of these MKs really mean... 11:32  |  Esther 29/06/08   19.   To Mark of Lewiston # 12 - Save your Tears... 12:14  |  Natasha 29/06/08   20.   To Esther # 17 - What these Bills really mean 13:14  |  Dagma 29/06/08   21.   To Moderators where are our Posts? 13:23  |  Dolly/Dagma 29/06/08   22.   Esther # 17 - Your response is a pessimistic one 14:03  |  Jewish Immigrant 29/06/08   23.   Voice of Palestine - I agree 15:09  |  Allon 29/06/08   24.   Esther, better a calm belligerance to a dangerous peace 15:11  |  Allon 29/06/08   25.   As less and even fewer Israelis wish to live in 15:44  |  ARTH 29/06/08   26.   Mark - its really easy to understand why BOTH are needed 15:48  |  smarter then olmert 29/06/08   27.   RE #8 Yes, We Do 18:52  |  OBSERVER 29/06/08   28.   RE #7 "You are totally wrong" 19:00  |  OBSERVER 29/06/08   29.   27 Observer - That Was One 04:18  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/08   30.   RE: #29 07:06  |  OBSERVER 01/07/08

Read & React New law: Israel to cede land only by referendum Responses: 114 Poll: 76% of Israelis feel safer as Jews in Israel than Diaspora Responses: 44 Palestinians who approach Gaza fence will be shot, says IDF Responses: 44 Amir Oren: Don't mess with the Zohan? Don't make us laugh Send response Report: U.S. fears Israel will attack Iran this year Responses: 40 Rosner's Domain Israel's image still under renovation How "respectful" will the 2008 election be? (WTR) Poll: Hezbollah swap - good or bad? Can Israel legally strike Iran with nukes? Is Time's Joe Klein being honest when he criticizes Joe Lieberman? More Headlines 10:16 Report: U.S. fears Israel will attack Iran this year 10:12 Olmert: Let's speed up deal for Shalit 11:00 Lebanon sources: Kuntar to be freed at start of Hezbollah swap 09:08 Despite Hezbollah report, the Ron Arad story is not over 10:05 Palestinians who approach Gaza fence will be shot, says IDF 10:41 Kiryat Gat tells its school girls: No romancing with Bedouin 07:00 Poll: 76% of Israelis feel safer living as Jews in Israel than in Diaspora 12:05 Israel denies it mistreated Gaza journalist at Jordan crossing 10:36 Third round of indirect talks with Syria set to begin in Istanbul 11:44 Israel keeps Gaza crossings closed, as Egypt eases Rafah border 12:07 Haifa-Hadera train services suspended after freight derails 10:43 Want a sex change operation? Consider doing it in Israel 04:22 Haaretz journalist wins investigative reporting award Previous Editions Select Day 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun

Special Offers Advertisement SAVE TALIA! and hundreds of cancer patients around the world Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved