New legislation would forbid nighttime outpost demolitions

National Union MK Katz's bill to be discussed by Ministerial Committee on Legislation.

By LAHAV HARKOV
National Union MK Yaakov Katz 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
National Union MK Yaakov Katz 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
West Bank outposts will no longer be dismantled at night, if a bill by MK Ya’acov Katz (National Union) passes.
The Ministerial Committee on Legislation plans to discuss the initiative on Sunday. Should it be approved, it will then have to pass a preliminary vote and three plenum readings to become law. The bill states that no populated home may be demolished between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Co-sponsoring the legislation are MKs Tzipi Hotovely (Likud), Yariv Levin (Likud) and Dov Henin (Hadash), and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel has expressed support for the initiative.
Katz explained that the bill’s purpose was to protect human dignity. “Even if the courts decide someone’s home must be demolished, the rest of his human rights must be protected,” he said. “It cannot be that people are forced out of their homes, even if it is justified, and are left without a reasonable chance to find shelter.”