Outpost legalization bill won't include Amona -- reports

Proposed legislation that would legalize West Bank outposts built on Palestinian land will lose its most controversial clause, one that would have gone head-to-head with the High Court by ruling that Amona, which the court has ordered the state to demolish, is legal.

According to reports, Clause 7 of the bill, which deals with Amona and other outposts that the court has already ruled are illegal, has been stricken due to the opposition of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) and Likud’s MK Benny Begin.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also opposed the bill, and sought to dissuade its main proponents in the pro-settlement Jewish Home party from pursuing it.

The removal of its most controversial clause could pave the way for the bill to come to a Knesset vote.