Mofaz Urging AG to Stop Netanyahu from Adopting Justice Levy’s Recommendations on Outposts

By: Jacob Edelist

Published: October 18th, 2012

Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak (R) and leader of the Opposition Shaul Mofaz both intend to stop Netanyahu from legalizing outposts.
Photo Credit: Miriam Alster/FLASH90

Opposition leader Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) petitioned Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein yesterday asking him to intervene immediately regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intention to adopt parts of Justice Edmond Levy’s report which recommend the legalization most outposts in Judea and Samaria and applying Israeli law there, in place of the current martial law, even before the upcoming Knesset elections, Walla reports.

“The prime minister’s hasty act of getting the report approved and adopting its recommendations by the government so close before the elections does not meet the criteria of a vital public need for action," Mofaz argued. "Therefore, we should refrain from any decision at this time.”

The opposition leader asked Weinstein to instruct Netanyahu not to make any decision on this matter and to “allow Israel's citizens to decide about it at the poll.”

The Edmond Levy report, published last June at the prime minister’s request, was intended to provide a legal framework for changing government policy on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. The report found that the legal status of Judea and Samaria is not that of "occupied territory," and therefore most of the outposts in these areas are legal.

Last Sunday, Netanyahu told Likud ministers he plans on adopting part of the report without relating to broad legal interpretations, to avoid international criticism. Still, the proposal will add legal flexibility and remove bureaucratic obstacles, making Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria considerably easier.

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