Netanyahu: Both settlements and Israeli courts need to be protected
The High Court of Justice has ordered the evacuation of Amona by December 25.
By HERB KEINONPRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu praises the new budget before the cabinet debate yesterday.(photo credit: REUTERS)
The government is “working overtime” to come up with a “responsible solution” to the Amona issue that will both protect the settlement enterprise and the authority of the courts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.Netanyahu's comments at the top of the weekly cabinet meeting came amid efforts to reach an agreement among coalition partners about a settlement bill that would retroactively legalize thousands of homes built on private Palestinian property in the West Bank, including the Amona outpost.Netanyahu said that efforts were underway to find an agreed upon solution with the coalition partners.“I expect everyone, including ministers and Knesset members to respect it [a solution, when found],” he said. “We need to act responsibly and wisely for the sake of our joint goal of protecting the settlements and also the court. We are working on both those planes.”The Kulanu faction is opposed to a bill that would include Amona, arguing that this would undermine the authority of the High Court of Justice.The High Court of Justice has ordered the evacuation of Amona by December 25.Intensive political efforts are underway to find a solution that would prevent the evacuation of the 40 homes or provide those who like in Amona with an alternative.