The Knesset approved in a preliminary reading a bill requiring a two-thirds majority to change the boundaries of Jerusalem.
The bill would require 80 Knesset members rather than the current 61, making it more difficult to cede parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinians in a peace deal.
The preliminary reading passed 54 to 28. The bill still must be approved in committee and pass three readings.
The bill, which states that Jerusalem is the Jewish state’s capital, comes on the heels of statements by Vice Prime Minister Haim Ramon that the division of Jerusalem is up for discussion at the upcoming peace conference in Annapolis, Md.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
