Binyamin Netanyahu
Binyamin NetanyahuMiriam Alster/Flash 90

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had instructed the Ministerial Committee for Legislation not to discuss MK Shuli Mualem-Refaeli's (Jewish Home) bill to recognize Amona.

Committee head Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) had previously stated her intention to bring the bill for a vote on Sunday and to cast her own vote in favor.

The decision came at the end of a meeting between Netanyahu and the heads of the coalition parties. The deciding argument came from the Attorney General, who claimed that the law is unconstitutional, would be rejected by the Supreme Court, and would harm the other communities in Judea and Samaria.

According to Clause 22 of the coalition agreement between Likud and Jewish Home, the Prime Minister has the authority to remove bills from the Ministerial Committee's agenda.

However, Arutz Sheva has learned that Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) is advancing a different solution for Amona, which would allow the buildings to remain without the need for new legislation.

Liberman intends to use the Absentees' Property Law from 1950, which allowed the Israeli government to purchase the property of those who left for enemy countries during the War of Independence.