The bill has passed its first Knesset reading, and is now being reviewed by two committees in preparation for its final readings: The Finance Committee, dealing with the technical aspects of the compensation to be offered to the expelled residents, and the Law Committee, regarding the law's principles.
The disengagement bill currently states in Clause 27a(5) that one who participates in a gathering of three or more people "for the purpose of disturbing the implementation of an order" given by a security officer in the framework of the disengagement plan is subject to three years in prison, or five years if he was armed at the time. The Committee decided today to strike this clause, and that the above "offenders" will not receive jail terms. The official decision to this effect is scheduled to be made next week.
On the other hand, Law Committee Chairman Michael Eitan (Likud) is initiating a change in the disengagement decision-making process. According to a compromise reached in the Cabinet six months ago, the disengagement was to be voted on in the Cabinet in four separate stages, beginning this coming March. The intention was to vote on the evacuation of several communities, followed by a review of the situation and then, if indicated, a vote on the next cluster of communities. Eitan wishes to replace this plan with a one-time vote on the demolition of all 25 Jewish communities in Gaza and the northern Shomron at once.
The Committee Chairman explained that it is not acceptable for the legislative process to be dependent on the executive branch. Committee member MK Benny Elon, however, said that such an initiative is "probably just a dictate from above" – apparently the Prime Minister's Office, as part of Labor Party leader Shimon Peres' coalition demands – "in the framework of the changes being made in the law."
The disengagement bill currently states in Clause 27a(5) that one who participates in a gathering of three or more people "for the purpose of disturbing the implementation of an order" given by a security officer in the framework of the disengagement plan is subject to three years in prison, or five years if he was armed at the time. The Committee decided today to strike this clause, and that the above "offenders" will not receive jail terms. The official decision to this effect is scheduled to be made next week.
On the other hand, Law Committee Chairman Michael Eitan (Likud) is initiating a change in the disengagement decision-making process. According to a compromise reached in the Cabinet six months ago, the disengagement was to be voted on in the Cabinet in four separate stages, beginning this coming March. The intention was to vote on the evacuation of several communities, followed by a review of the situation and then, if indicated, a vote on the next cluster of communities. Eitan wishes to replace this plan with a one-time vote on the demolition of all 25 Jewish communities in Gaza and the northern Shomron at once.
The Committee Chairman explained that it is not acceptable for the legislative process to be dependent on the executive branch. Committee member MK Benny Elon, however, said that such an initiative is "probably just a dictate from above" – apparently the Prime Minister's Office, as part of Labor Party leader Shimon Peres' coalition demands – "in the framework of the changes being made in the law."