Yesha Council Chairman Danny Dayan criticized on Monday the ministerial committee’s decision to postpone by three months a vote on a bill that would give young communities ("outposts") in Judea and Samaria immunity from destruction until a court had reviewed the residents' claims of ownership.
The bill, known by some as the Migron Bill, was proposed by National Union MK Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh), Likud MKs Ze'ev Elkin and Yariv Levin, and Yisrael Beitenu MK David Rotem. If approved, it could delay or prevent the scheduled demolition of Migron in the Binyamin region.
Speaking to Arutz Sheva, Dayan said, “The government has run away from its responsibility of making decisions.” He added the law should have been passed fifty years ago.
“The current situation is absurd,” he said. “Some major in the Civil Administration decides to demolish a community and the Supreme Court approves it. This bill is the lifeblood of democracy. It says that only a judge can decide on demolitions after thoroughly examining the evidence. Who could oppose or reject such a law?”
“It’s very unfortunate that the ministers surrendered to the whim of the Prime Minister,” Dayan added, suggesting that we may see the Civil Administration’s bulldozers coming to demolish Jewish homes over the next three months.
In the interview, Dayan also criticized the Israeli decision to hold talks with the Palestinian Authority in Amman, reminding that the PA has declared a political war against Israel when it refused to resume negotiations when it had a chance, when it chose to form an alliance with Hamas and when it decided to turn to seek statehood in the United Nations.
“Israel, instead of teaching them a lesson by annexing Judea and Samaria, runs after every photo opportunity with Saeb Erekat,” he said.
On Monday, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas delivered a cryptic and contradictory message on the eve of Palestinian Authority-Israeli talks in Jordan. He said that “all options are on the table” but said that he opposes a renewal of the "Intifada."
“From now until January 26, if the Quartet is unable to bring the two parties to the negotiating table on clear bases, then it has failed… If nothing happens by the 26th, we have options. There are people who say a third intifada and I say this is not going to happen. I do not accept that,” Abbas said.