Netanyahu to establish new settlement affairs committee
Yet to be approved by cabinet, forum will ‘have authority to formulate government policy’
Aaron Kalman is a former writer and breaking news editor for the Times of Israel
The Cabinet will vote on Sunday on the formation of a ministerial committee that will have the power to decide governmental policy regarding settlements and building beyond the green line, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Thursday.
According to the announcement, “The committee will have authority to formulate Government policy regarding unregulated construction on state and private lands, including the main issues that have reached the courts. Committee decisions will have the status of Cabinet decisions and ministers will be unable to appeal them.”
The committee will feature 10 ministers in addition to Netanyahu, who will chair the special task force.
Netanyahu had said such a committee would be formed when he announced his proposed solution to the crisis surrounding the Givat Ulpana neighborhood in Bet El.
A court decision stating the neighborhood needed to be demolished was upheld by Netanyhu, even as members of his coalition and own Likud party tried to legislate a bill that would have bypassed the verdict.
