Special Knesset Session to Discuss Construction Work on Bedouin Lands

The Knesset, recessed for Passover, will convene in special session next Monday to discuss the Supreme Court’s citation of contempt against the government for unauthorized construction work on Bedouin lands in the Negev. The session promises to be a lively one since the government wants to limit debate to the narrow issue of “the need to obey the law during the military redeployment in the Negev.”

But the opposition Labor Alignment and the Shai faction insist on airing both the high court’s censure of the government and the legal ramifications of the construction work itself as well as present plans to redeploy Israeli troops in the Negev after they evacuate from Sinai.

The narrow issue, which brought the unprecedented reprimand from the Supreme Court last Thursday, is the failure of the government to obtain a permit from the Beersheba district court before it commenced construction on land claimed by the Bedouins. The matter of the legality of the work itself is presently before the courts.

That prompted Knesset Speaker Yitzhak Shamir of Likud to order a postponement of the debate yesterday. Today, Deputy Speaker Moshe Meron of Likud, said “We will discuss the contempt of court issue in a fortnight’s time. Under the present situation, the discussion of the issue is sub judice.” A compromise was reached to open debate next Monday.

Deputy Speaker Chaika Grossman of Mapam favored discussion of the entire matter and claimed that the juridical process was on excuse by the government parties to avoid debate. Labor Alignment Whip Dan Rosolio charged that the decision to limit debate amounted to “overruling the Knesset.” Other opposition MKs said they intended to discuss the entire Bedouin issue but Shamir warned that any attempt to raise questions now before the courts would be interrupted.