MK Uri Ariel
MK Uri ArielIsrael news photo: Flash 90

MK Uri Ariel (National Union) told Arutz Sheva on Tuesday that the national camp shouldn't rule out joining Israel's newly minted unity government.

"I think there are certain advantages," Ariel said. "But the main question is what the Prime Minister does about threatened communities in Judea and Samaria."

Ariel noted that the National Union does not oppose replacing the Tal Law or altering Israel's system of government.

The "Tal Law requires amendment, we have a proposal that would allow the ultra-Orthodox and others find their own way to integrate," Ariel said.

"Also, about the system of government, I believe there is room to increase the electoral threshold," he added.

"We would consider joining a unity government if we are invited to do so," he said. "But as you know, that has two sides... we do not reject it outright and we definitely want it if the politics are right. It depends on preliminary discussions pertaining to education and settlement."

But "at the moment there are no talks," he admitted.

Ariel said he believes Beit El's threatened Ulpana neighborhood will not be destroyed by the new unity government.

"I believe, rather than eviction and demolition, that it will be handled through legislation or an administrative order from the Minister of Defense," Ariel explained.

He said the issue needs "to be brought before the Knesset," Ariel said, adding "we have already proposed a law. Multiple petitions to the Supreme Court have failed to resolve the situation.

"Now I think things are clear. The era of petitions filed with the Supreme Court can be dealt with by legalizing threatened communities with legislation.

"Everyone acknowledges that the residents of the Ulpana neighborhood were there in good faith, and we therefore need to enact the law and compensate the land owners.

"We are faced, in the next two months, with similar problems in Migron and Givat Assaf. We are in the midst of a [litigation] onslaught from Peace Now."

It is unclear if the law Ariel refers to, which would instruct courts to order monetary compensation or alternative land grants in lieu of demolition orders in many communities, would resolve the problem.

Israeli law does not apply in Judea and Samaria, which is formally under military rule. This, however, could be considered a procedure.