Coalition leaders postpone discussion of ‘Unified Jerusalem’ bill

Coalition heads unanimously agree to postpone a discussion a bill that would require a special two-thirds Knesset majority on any decision to divide Jerusalem under a future peace deal with the Palestinians.

The bill proposed by Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett is seeking to amend the Basic Law on Jerusalem so that any future vote to divide the city would require the approval of 80 of the 120 MKs to pass, as opposed to a regular majority.

The bill was scheduled to face a vote at the Ministerial Committee for Legislation last week, but the Jewish Home said Netanyahu pulled it from the agenda at the last minute over political considerations.

The Likud in response slammed the Jewish Home’s announcement, saying Bennett proposed the bill without seeking the cooperation of any coalition partners.