PM: Ministers who vote for Ulpana bills will be fired

Ulpana outpost near Beit El 370 (R).(Photo by: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

By HERB KEINON AND JPOST.COM STAFF
06/05/2012

Netanyahu makes clear he opposes retroactively legalizing unauthorized construction in the settlements, including the Ulpana outpost, says disciplined gov't needed to deal with major issues confronting state.

Government ministers and deputy ministers who vote for the Knesset bills on Wednesday to retroactively legalize unauthorized Jewish construction in the settlements, including the Ulpana outpost, will be fired, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made clear Tuesday, after deciding that the government will oppose the bill.

Netanyahu said during a meeting in his office that the country has major challenges ahead -- such as passing a budget, getting all segments of society to equally share the country's burdens, and dealing with the problem of migrants.

The prime minister stated that only a united and disciplined government will be able to deal with those issues.

The last week has seen an escalation in the political right's attempts to pressure Likud ministers and MKs to vote for the bills, including hunger strikes, marches, rallies and campaigns to drown politicians in text messages on the issue.

Previously, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Interior Minister Eli Yishai, as well as many Likud MKs had come out publicly in favor of the bills.

At first Netanyahu treated the issue carefully, suggesting various compromises and highlighting his overall supportive position towards building new settlements in the West Bank.

But ultimately, with the vote, coming Wednesday, it appears that Netanyahu decided that he must use stronger political tools in his power to guarantee a majority vote against the bills which he opposes.

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