Dozens of Peace Now activists demonstrated outside Education Minister Naftali Bennett’s (Bayit Yehudi) home Tuesday night in Ra'anana in protest against the Regulation Bill which aims to legalize outposts in the West Bank built on privately owned Palestinian land.
The protesters carried placards saying “government of the hilltop youth” in reference to the far right-wing group which constructs haphazard and illegal outposts in areas of the West Bank. They also chanted calls such as "Bennett Bennett resign, the public is worth more."
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Naftali Bennett in a dialogue with Peace Now Director Avi Buskila (Photo: Peace Now)
(צילום: שלום עכשיו)
Bennett eventually left his home and confronted the protesters directly. “I love you. You are doing what you need to do in a democracy. But from my point of view the law in Ofra is the same as in Tel Aviv,” he told them.
Responding to Bennett, Director of Peace Now Avi Buskila quipped: “According to that logic, there is no problem from your point of view with us putting a caravan tomorrow in your back yard.”
“You continue to protest and we will continue what we are doing,” Bennett retorted before returning to his home.
The Regulation Bill is set to be brought before the Knesset for a preliminary reading on Wednesday after being approved on Sunday night by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. According to the coalition, efforts are still being undertaken to enlist supporters.