Kulanu to abstain on West Bank outpost bill

If the outpost bill — which would prevent settlements built on private land from being demolished if they were built with state assistance — goes to a Knesset plenary vote today, MKs from the Kulanu party will abstain, a party spokesman tells The Times of Israel.

The centrist Kulanu party opposes a clause in the bill that would retroactively legalize outposts such as Amona, which is currently slated to be demolished and evacuated on December 25. The current text of the bill presents two options — one including the controversial clause and one without. If the 1st reading passes today, the bill would go to committee where MKs would decide on the final text of the bill before 2nd and 3rd readings.

But Kulanu will not support the bill with any mention of retroactivity, even as one of two options, the spokesman says.

— Raoul Wootliff