Settlement Committee won't cut Barak's authority
Despite expected establishment of committee on settlement affairs, Defense Ministry sources say Ehud Barak's jurisdiction over settlement matters will not diminish
The committee, which was established last week as the settlement regulation bill failed to pass its Knesset vote, will be authorized to present government policy pertaining to unregulated construction on private and State land, including fundamental issues that will reach the courts.
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Moreover, the committee decisions will have the validity of undisputable government decisions.
The committee will also include Minister Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkowitz, Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon, Minister Benny Begin, Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan.
Is Barak losing power? (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
The establishment of the committee raises questions regarding the government's true intentions pertaining to Barak's authority on settlement matters, as it seemingly mitigates the defense minister's influence on such issues.
The announcement was made last Wednesday before the Knesset convened to vote on a bill aiming to legalize homes built on contested land in the West Bank, which was subsequently voted down at Netanyahu's urging.
In a move intended to appease right-wing settlers, the PM announced the approval of 851 new settlement homes in the West Bank in addition to forming the ministerial committee on settlements.
"The defense minister's authorities will not be reduced," said Defense Ministry officials.
Sources close to Barak have noted that the defense minister was quite pleased with the decision to establish the committee.
"As the amount of people making decisions on such issues grows, the number of people who can then express their displeasure over the decisions made diminishes," one source said.
However, at this point, it is still not quite clear what motive stood behind the PM's decision to establish the committee, as neither the government nor the Knesset plan to lead any drastic legislation intended to diminish Barak's powers any time soon.
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