The website of Haaretz newspaper on Wednesday reported that the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation is set to vote on Sunday on a bill to annex a number of West Bank settlements to Jerusalem.
The website pointed out that the bill providing for annexing the settlements of Gush Etzion Ma’aleh Adumim Efrat Beitar Illit and Givat Ze’ev to Jerusalem was initiated by MK Yoav Kish of Likud party with the support of Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz.
According to this bill which is part of a project called “Greater Jerusalem” the Israeli local authorities and settlement neighborhoods beyond the Green Line will be included under Israel’s Jerusalem municipality.
The website noted that the bill is expected to be approved especially since it enjoys the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other parties in the government coalition.
Haaretz added that the Palestinian Authority is likely to strongly oppose the bill that will be seen as part of a de facto annexation of the West Bank territories.
Minister Katz said that the move would add thousands of Israeli residents to Jerusalem and reduce the number of Palestinians there.
