The Tuesday morning vote on the revamped version of the bill, as formulated by the committee members over the past several weeks, ended in an 8-8 tie, with Arab MK Azmi Bishara abstaining.
Committee member MK Benny Elon explained to Arutz-7 that the Finance Committee must still approve or amend the bill's 140 clauses, "and it has barely begun work on this... Every delay works in our favor - but its importance should not be exaggerated." Elon emphasized that the uprooting of Jewish communities cannot be implemented without Knesset approval, though at least one analyst debated this point.
The political significance of the defeat is not clear, nor is the future of the changes that were proposed in the committee. Among the major changes were the nullification of imprisonment for those who resist the evacuation, and the reduction from three years' imprisonment to six months for those who refuse to leave their homes.
Arutz-7's Knesset correspondent Ariel Kahane said that it could be that Committee Chaiman MK Mickey Eitan [pictured here] will present the anti-disengagement committee members with a choice of either passing the bill with the changes they attained, or of having the bill sent to the Knesset without these improvements.
"Let's not exaggerate the importance of today's vote," Elon said, "because we know how the Prime Minister acts in such situations. He will enlist a majority in the committee either by agreeing to a few more changes, or by switching people on the committee, and thus bringing about an artificial majority. But what's important is that this shows his weakness; he has been trying to radiate a sense of solidity, in order to attract his potential coalition partners to join the coalition. But a defeat like this might cause Rav Elyashiv [the spiritual leader of the United Torah Judaism party] to think again before allowing his party to join the coalition."
"Again, let's not live in illusions," MK Elon said. "Our job in the Knesset is to cause delays in the bill, and to improve clauses in the bill just in case the worst happens - but what we need is a popular uprising, without violence, the way Pinchas Wallerstein started, with thousands of people sitting on the ground, refusing to accept this unethical plan, and showing the Heavens that we are more connected to this Land than the Arabs. The public must know that we are now in an emergency situation and everyone must enlist - men, women and children."
The Yesha Council is planning a massive sit-in opposite the Knesset next week, with tens of thousands taking part for at least ten days.
Committee member MK Benny Elon explained to Arutz-7 that the Finance Committee must still approve or amend the bill's 140 clauses, "and it has barely begun work on this... Every delay works in our favor - but its importance should not be exaggerated." Elon emphasized that the uprooting of Jewish communities cannot be implemented without Knesset approval, though at least one analyst debated this point.
The political significance of the defeat is not clear, nor is the future of the changes that were proposed in the committee. Among the major changes were the nullification of imprisonment for those who resist the evacuation, and the reduction from three years' imprisonment to six months for those who refuse to leave their homes.
Arutz-7's Knesset correspondent Ariel Kahane said that it could be that Committee Chaiman MK Mickey Eitan [pictured here] will present the anti-disengagement committee members with a choice of either passing the bill with the changes they attained, or of having the bill sent to the Knesset without these improvements.
"Let's not exaggerate the importance of today's vote," Elon said, "because we know how the Prime Minister acts in such situations. He will enlist a majority in the committee either by agreeing to a few more changes, or by switching people on the committee, and thus bringing about an artificial majority. But what's important is that this shows his weakness; he has been trying to radiate a sense of solidity, in order to attract his potential coalition partners to join the coalition. But a defeat like this might cause Rav Elyashiv [the spiritual leader of the United Torah Judaism party] to think again before allowing his party to join the coalition."
"Again, let's not live in illusions," MK Elon said. "Our job in the Knesset is to cause delays in the bill, and to improve clauses in the bill just in case the worst happens - but what we need is a popular uprising, without violence, the way Pinchas Wallerstein started, with thousands of people sitting on the ground, refusing to accept this unethical plan, and showing the Heavens that we are more connected to this Land than the Arabs. The public must know that we are now in an emergency situation and everyone must enlist - men, women and children."
The Yesha Council is planning a massive sit-in opposite the Knesset next week, with tens of thousands taking part for at least ten days.