http://www.israelwire.com/New/990126/99012634.html
Israel Lawmakers Limit Golan Option
Jan 26, 1999
(IsraelWire-1/26-21:00-IST) The Knesset Tuesday passed the Golan bill,
which makes giving away the Golan Heights a move that would require a larger
majority of lawmakers. Any land giveaway would require a majority of 61 of
the 120-seat Knesset, and a national referendum.
The bill was approved 53-30, with several members of the dovish opposition
Labor Party backing it.
The bill was sponsored by the Third Way Party as a safeguard against
compromise concerning the Golan Heights in any peace deal made with the
Syrian government.
"It is a challenge and provocation to the feelings of Palestinians, Arabs and
the Islamic nation," Nabil Abu Rdeineh, a spokesman for Arafat, told Reuters.
Following the bill being accepted, Third Way MK Yehuda Harel stated the bill
was actually introduced by the late Yitzchak Rabin, who he said initiated the
talks with the Syrian government.
http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?id=39220&mador=1&datee=1/27/99
Wednesday, January 27, 1999
Knesset passes Golan law
By Gideon Alon, Ha'aretz Knesset Correspondent
The Golan Heights Law easily passed second and third readings
yesterday in the Knesset.
Interior Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani said the country had his party
to thank for the initiative. "This is the great achievement of The Third
Way," he said.Fifty-three members of the ruling coalition voted for the
law, with 30 opposition Knesset members voting against. The law, which
was sponsored by MK Yehuda Harel (The Third Way), requires a
majority of at least 61 MKs to pass any Knesset decision to give up land
considered part of Israeli sovereign territory.
The law also requires the drafting after the May elections of a new basic
law, to be called the Basic Law on Popular Referendums, by which any
decision to give up such land would also be approved by majority vote in a
referendum, in addition to the required Knesset majority.
After the vote, members of the The Third Way celebrated their victory
with leaders of Jewish settlements on the Golan.
"For the past 32 years, we have been developing the Golan," said Avi
Za'ira, head of the Golan settlements committee. "Development, together
with the Golan Law, will make our hold on the Golan irreversible," he
added.
MK Saleh Saleem, leader of the Hadash faction, called for turning the
vote into a motion of no-confidence in the prime minister, which would
delay the vote until next week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
he saw the vote as a confidence motion, and the vote went on as planned
(c) copyright 1999 Ha'aretz. All Rights Reserved
