Knesset to ask PM to respond on West Bank violence

Temporary Knesset Speaker Binyamin Ben-Eliezer plans to request Netanyahu report on escalating violence after Meretz MK called on PM to stop wallowing in coalition talks, explain to public how he will prevent third intifada.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Palestinians flee tear gas 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinians flee tear gas 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Acting Knesset Speaker Binyamin Ben-Eliezer plans to ask Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to report to the legislature on the escalating violence in the West Bank.
On Sunday, Meretz chairwoman Zehava Gal-On asked Ben-Eliezer to summon Netanyahu to the Knesset and report what the government planned to do about the situation in the West Bank.
The prime minister must explain to the public what he planned to do to prevent a third intifada, Gal-On wrote on her Facebook page.
“While Netanyahu is wallowing in the swamp of coalition negotiations, the diplomatic freeze, which is his fault, continues, as do the failures of his government, which brought the territories on the verge of catching fire,” she said.
The Meretz leader said it would be appropriate for Netanyahu to “take a break from questions of equality in the burden of [national] service, which has turned into the most important thing in recent weeks.”
Ben-Eliezer said later on Sunday that he would ask Netanyahu to report how the government planned to deal with the issue.
According to the Labor MK, US President Barack Obama who is to visit Israel next month, will probably push for a peace process as soon as possible, regardless of whether or not there is a coalition.
Ben-Eliezer also told Ma’ariv that a third intifada was likely to be more violent than the previous two, and could affect the stability with neighboring countries.