Members of Knesset from the opposition slammed the Land Bill on Monday, accusing those who voted in favor of the proposition of selling their principles for the sake of political power. The opposition MKs were joined by members of the Labor and Jewish Home parties, who criticized their fellow party members for giving in to pressure from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Kadima criticized Labor in particular. “The Labor party has buried its principles and abandoned its founding beliefs, and is directly responsible for the privatization of national lands” a Kadima statement said.
"I never thought I'd see the Labor party, the descendants of those who redeemed the land and drained the swamps, taking part in a liquidation sale of our national lands,” said MK Shai Hermesh of Kadima.
MK Michael Ben-Ari of the Ichud Leumi (National Union) derided all those who voted for the bill as “a flock of sheep.” The passage of the bill made Monday “a black day for the state of Israel,” he said.
The Arab sector has also expressed opposition to the bill, saying the lands will be used to benefit Jews and not Arabs and other minorities. Arab organizations such as the Higher Arab Follow-Up Committee also claim that the bill will lead to the sale of lands abandoned by Arabs who fled Israel during the War of Independence.
Religious and Zionist leaders have expressed opposite concerns, fearing that the land sale will eventually lead to the sale of land redeemed by Jews to non-Jewish buyers backed by wealthy Arab states.
Labor vs. Labor
Harsh criticism of the Labor party was also heard from within the Labor party. “I'm ashamed to be a part of the Labor party,” wrote MK Eitan Cabel in an angry missive to fellow party members who voted for the bill. “What can I say that hasn't been said already? That all of you seek nothing but power? That true ideology is as far from you as East is from West?”
A fellow Labor dissident, MK Shelly Yechimovitch, said, “Privatizing national lands is against the values of Zionism, of society, of environmental protection, and I'm ashamed that the Labor party was a full partner with Netanyahu in taking this serious step.” The Labor Youth movement agreed, stating that the party's founders “are turning in their graves today.”
Jewish Home Torn
The Jewish Home party was torn by the vote as well, as party head and Science Minister Daniel Hershkowitz voted for the bill at the last minute after previously stating his opposition to the proposal. Hershkowitz agreed to vote in favor of the bill after Netanyahu promised that the sale of national lands would be gradual, and would be overseen by a ministerial committee, on which Hershkowitz will sit.
Hershkowitz defended his decision, saying the bill would have passed in any case, so by voting in favor, he was able to assure that the Jewish Home will retain some influence over the sale process.
Jewish Home MKs Uri Orbach and Zevulun Orlev were not convinced by his arguments, and accused him of going against an explicit party resolution to oppose the bill. Giving in to Netanyahu was “disgraceful,” they said.
"I am glad to have had the honor today of voting against the privatization of national lands and their sale to the highest bidder,” Orbach said after the vote. “I pity those MKs and ministers who gave in to pressure, threats and temptation.”