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Knesset OKs 'Intifada Law'
Knesset debates two laws: 'Intifada Law' frees state from lawsuits by Palestinians who have had property damaged by IDF; 'Citizenship Law' puts limits on Palestinians who marry Israelis and become citizens
By Ilan Marciano and Doron Sheffer
The Damages Law, also known as "The Intifada Law," passed a Knesset reading Wednesday afternoon by of 54-15, with only one abstention.
"The State of Israel will not put up with attempts to make it responsible for damage incurred by civilians during a military operation in a war zone," Knesset Constitution Committee Chairman Michael Eitan said.
The Damages Law established that "the state is not responsible for damage done to someone who is the subject of an enemy state, or someone who is a member of a terrorist group, or someone who was hurt while working on behalf of either one."
The law got the nickname, "The Intifada Law" because it absolves the state of lawsuits by Palestinians who sustained damages by military operations during the al-Aqsa Intifada.
The state argued that in a war between two countries each side takes care of its own wounded. However, in the case of Israel, the state ends up being forced to take care of Israeli casualties and to field Palestinian lawsuits.
Citizenship Law
After countless debates and the interference of the prime minister and the High Court of Justice, the Knesset also voted on the "Citizenship Law."
This law modifies an existing law that allowed Palestinians and foreign Arabs who marry Israeli citizens to live in Israel and for their children to recieve citizenship. This law raised fears about infiltrating terrorists and a swelling Israeli Arab population.
The new law allows a "moderate" number of Arab residency-seekers into Israel.
The main limit is age: Men have to be older than 35, women older than 25, and children under the age of 14. The reason for this is to limit the entry of terrorists (97 percent of which belong to the disqualified age range).
Ultimately, the interior minister and local district police commanders have the final word on who enters the country.
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