A bid meant to legalize 4000 Israeli illegal settlement houses passed a first reading in the Knesset on Wednesday.
The bill was approved with 58 in favor and 51 opposed.
The bill brought to a vote on Wednesday would legalize houses that were built on private Palestinian land.
MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli (Bayit Yehudi) presented the proposed law amid nearly nonstop shouting from the opposition benches.
“The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel. We returned after 2000 years and established a state… A nation cannot be an occupier in its own land” Moalem-Refaeli claimed.
During Moalem-Refaeli’s speech MK Dov Henin (Joint List) appealed to her religious beliefs shouting to her that the Torah says not to steal.
Joint Arab List MKs condemned the bill saying it would rather pave the way for bringing the Israeli occupation government before the International Criminal Court for its “war crimes.”
Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg came out against the bill saying that its passage would be an example of the tyranny of the majority.
“This Knesset could propose that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east and it could pass because there’s a majority” she said.
“In the name of the majority this coalition is passing a law saying it is permissible to steal. And then these people say they’re speaking in the name of God and the Torah! “Shame on you” Zandberg said to the coalition.
As soon as final voting in favor of the bid sees the day Israel will find no obstacles legitimizing 60 illegal outposts and giving go-ahead signs to 4000 illegal settlement units which were built on Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. Israel will also hold sway over 8000 dunums of Palestinian lands.
