Israel Matzav: Netanyahu nixes discussion of bill to annex Route 443

Netanyahu nixes discussion of bill to annex Route 443

You may recall that in December, the Supreme Court ruled that Route 443, the 'back road' from Jerusalem to Modiin, must be opened to 'Palestinian' traffic. Last week, the IDF announced how it plans to attempt to secure the road once it is opened to 'Palestinian' traffic. If all goes well, the road will move at a crawl pace much of the day, traffic on Route 1 - the 'main road' - will increase drastically, and no one will be murdered in terror attacks.

Our system of government in Israel does not include an absolute 'balance of powers.' The Knesset reigns supreme, and the Knesset can overrule the Supreme Court by passing a law. This is known in Hebrew as "okef bagatz" (circumventing the [Supreme Court acting as a] High Court of Justice). And so, on Sunday, MK Moshe Matalon of Yisrael Beiteinu attempted to present a bill at the cabinet meeting - which was co-sponsored by 17 other MK's - that would have annexed Route 443 to the State of Israel such that 'Palestinians' could be prevented from using the road.

"It is sad that there are those in Israel who, citing 'civil rights,' empathize with the need for Palestinian comforts, yet are not that concerned with the lives and safety of Israeli citizens," said Matalon.

Prime Minister Netanyahu vetoed discussion of the bill.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday morning said that the government would not discuss annexing Road 443 to Israel. The Ministerial Committee for Legislation was set to discuss on Sunday a proposal to annex the road. A new date for the discussion has not been set. The proposal, by MK Moshe Matalon (Yisrael Beiteinu), has the backing of dozens of Mks from a wide variety of parties. The law attempts to override a recent High Court decision demanding that Arabs living in Palestinian Authority towns have access to the road.

President Obumbler wouldn't be happy if we started annexing land, would he?

So now the Court decision will be implemented, God forbid someone will be killed in a terror attack and then the Knesset can discuss annexing the road.

What could go wrong?

Israel Matzav: Netanyahu nixes discussion of bill to annex Route 443