Large Majority Seen for First Reading of ‘jerusalem Bill’

The Knesset was expected to pass by a large majority late tonight the first reading of Geula Cohen’s “Jerusalem Bill.” The coalition was expected to be joined by most of the Labor Alignment, leaving Mapam, Yossi Sarid of Labor, Shai, Sheli and the Communist Party opposing the bill. Some of these opponents stressed during the debate that they objected to the timing rather than the content of the bill.

Premier Menachem Begin planned to attend the session — his first outing since suffering a heart attack three-and-a-half weeks ago. The debate on the bill dragged on for many hours, with more than 30 speakers from all parties taking part. Cohen herself opened the debate saying the bill was “already helping” Israel in its political struggle. It was a way of showing both President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and President Carter, she said, that Israel was united and firm in its determination to preserve Jerusalem as its united capital.

Cohen and many other MKs who supported the bill said it was a fitting answer from Israel’s Knesset to the United Nations General Assembly emergency session on the Palestinian question now proceeding in New York City. A number of coalition members, however, conceded that the timing of the bill was politically awkward for Israel. “But there is no choice but to vote for it,” Zalman Shuval of Likud explained. To let the bill be defeated would be a sure signal of Israel’s climbing down on the Jerusalem issue.

Shai leader Amnon Rubinstein agreed with this analysis terming Cohen’s tactic a “catch.” But he differed from the coalition conclusion: “If the timing of the bill is bad — why vote for It?” he asked.

Cohen pledged to reporters after her address that she would fight to have the bill pushed through its second and third readings before the Knesset recesses for the summer July 30. But parliamentary observers said this could by no means be guaranteed in view of pressing other business before the Knesset in the days ahead.