PM delays debate on Route 443 annexation
Following request by Netanyahu, discussion of MK Matalon's bill proposal to bypass High Court ruling allowing Palestinians to use Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road taken off agenda until further notice
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested on Sunday that the Ministerial Committee on Legislation rethink MK Moshe Matalon's bill proposal to annex Route 443 to Israel.
Following his request, the discussion of the bill was removed from the committee's agenda, and it remains unclear when the discussion will be resumed.
Route 443 connects Modiin with Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and is meant to be open to Palestinian traffic in some three months, following a High Court ruling on the matter.
Since the ruling was given, opposition has been heard from ministers on the Right who say a law should be legislated to bypass the ruling. Sources from the Labor party have objected to such action.
Route 443, to be open to Palestinians in three months (Photo: AFP)
The explanatory pages to the proposed bill note that the need for the law has arisen in the wake of the ruling, which determines that a road that has seen shooting attacks on Israelis in the past must be available to Palestinian use.
MK Matalon claims that opening Route 443 to Palestinians will mean that thousands of Israelis will avoid using it, and those who continue to drive on this road will be putting their lives in danger.
According to Matalon, the proposed bill is intended to alter the legal situation and enable Israelis to drive safely on this major route to the capital, Jerusalem.
"It is sad that there are Israelis who empathize with Palestinians on the pretext of concern for human rights, while the lives and safety of Israeli citizens are not even on their minds," he said.
Aviad Glickman contributed to this report
