The bill in question legalizes the disengagement process, which includes the expulsion of the 8,500 Jewish residents of Gaza and four northern Shomron communities from their homes; the possible destruction of all structures there, including homes, synagogues, yeshivot and schools; the removal of the bodies from cemeteries in the area and their reburial elsewhere; the withdrawal of IDF forces; the compensation to be given to the residents; the punishments to be meted out to the protestors and those who refuse to leave; and the abandonment of the land to the Arabs.
The bill, a very lengthy one, has been divided into two parts for Knesset committee consideration. Its financial aspects were approved last week (see below), and its legal aspects are to be voted on this afternoon.
Eight anti-disengagement MKs of the Law Committee are certain to vote against it: Gideon Saar, Gilad Erdan, Naomi Blumental and Yuli Edelsteinm all of the Likud, as well as Nissim Ze'ev (Shas), Avraham Ravitz (Degel HaTorah), Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party, and Eliezer Cohen (National Union).
On the other hand, another eight will surely vote in favor: Likud MKs Michael Eitan and Roni Bar-On; Labor MKs Eitan Cabel, Yuli Tamir and another one who has not yet been named to the committee; MKs Reshef Chen and Ettie Livni (Shinui); and Avshalom Vilan (Meretz).
If the 17th member of the committee, Arab MK Azmi Bishara, abstains – as he did in the previous vote – the bill will not pass.
Almost two months ago, on Dec. 28, the Law Committee similarly did not approve a previous version of the Expulsion/Compensation bill. Then, too, the vote ended in an 8-8 tie, with MK Bishara abstaining.
Law Committee Chairman Michael Eitan (Likud), who is in favor of a national referendum on the disengagement question, is still trying to formulate a compromise version of the bill. He wants the bill to stipulate that the implementation of the withdrawal/expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Shomron will be contingent upon the results of a national referendum. This, despite Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's strong objections to such a vote.
Public surveys taken last week show that up to 54% of the populace feel that whether or not to abandon Jewish Gaza to the Arabs should be decided by referendum. Public support for the disengagement is much lower than has been thought; three polls taken last week show 65%, 61%, and 54%, respectively, support the plan.
The Knesset Finance Committee narrowly passed the financial aspects of the bill last week, after Arab MK Muhammed Barakeh decided not to abstain but rather to vote in favor. If the legal aspects are passed this afternoon, the entire Knesset is scheduled to vote on the bill's final readings this Wednesday.
The bill, a very lengthy one, has been divided into two parts for Knesset committee consideration. Its financial aspects were approved last week (see below), and its legal aspects are to be voted on this afternoon.
Eight anti-disengagement MKs of the Law Committee are certain to vote against it: Gideon Saar, Gilad Erdan, Naomi Blumental and Yuli Edelsteinm all of the Likud, as well as Nissim Ze'ev (Shas), Avraham Ravitz (Degel HaTorah), Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party, and Eliezer Cohen (National Union).
On the other hand, another eight will surely vote in favor: Likud MKs Michael Eitan and Roni Bar-On; Labor MKs Eitan Cabel, Yuli Tamir and another one who has not yet been named to the committee; MKs Reshef Chen and Ettie Livni (Shinui); and Avshalom Vilan (Meretz).
If the 17th member of the committee, Arab MK Azmi Bishara, abstains – as he did in the previous vote – the bill will not pass.
Almost two months ago, on Dec. 28, the Law Committee similarly did not approve a previous version of the Expulsion/Compensation bill. Then, too, the vote ended in an 8-8 tie, with MK Bishara abstaining.
Law Committee Chairman Michael Eitan (Likud), who is in favor of a national referendum on the disengagement question, is still trying to formulate a compromise version of the bill. He wants the bill to stipulate that the implementation of the withdrawal/expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Shomron will be contingent upon the results of a national referendum. This, despite Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's strong objections to such a vote.
Public surveys taken last week show that up to 54% of the populace feel that whether or not to abandon Jewish Gaza to the Arabs should be decided by referendum. Public support for the disengagement is much lower than has been thought; three polls taken last week show 65%, 61%, and 54%, respectively, support the plan.
The Knesset Finance Committee narrowly passed the financial aspects of the bill last week, after Arab MK Muhammed Barakeh decided not to abstain but rather to vote in favor. If the legal aspects are passed this afternoon, the entire Knesset is scheduled to vote on the bill's final readings this Wednesday.