From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Amid Temple Mount tensions, lawmakers advance Jerusalem amendment
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approves for a first reading a controversial amendment to the Basic Law: Jerusalem that requires the votes of 80 MKs — or two-thirds of the Knesset — to divide Jerusalem between an Israeli and Palestinian state.
The bill is likely to pass its first reading — the first of three to become law — on Wednesday, the last day of the current summer session.
If it passes, a future Knesset that seeks to divide the capital as part of a peace agreement would not necessarily need 80 votes, since the bill itself can be amended with just 61.
Opposition lawmaker MK Meirav Michaeli (Zionist Union) slammed the quick progress of the Jewish Home-backed bill, saying it should not be advanced “in such a tense period,” Army Radio reports.
The Times of Israel Community.