The way the government handles the issues of universal conscription and the contested neighborhood of Givat Ulpana will be the real tests of the new coalition, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said in a press conference Wednesday morning.
A day after the dramatic announcement of the deal that brought Kadima into the coalition, Liberman seemed willing to give the new union a chance, but warned against using the broad bloc to delay making tough decisions.
Liberman also spoke about the government’s response to the Supreme Court decision to evict settlers from Givat Ulpana, in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, saying the government would have to create legislation to bypass the court’s ruling and enable the residents to stay. The court order requires the demolition of five buildings in the neighborhood, built on private Palestinian land, by July 1.
“The residents of the Givat Ulpana neighborhood are law-abiding citizens. Givat Ulpana is not an illegal outpost. It’s not their fault the government made a mistake and sent them to live there. Therefore the government has to find a solution,” said Liberman.
Addressing the Palestinian issue, Liberman said that the ball was in the Palestinian court and that Israel has done all it can to return to the negotiating table.
From: TimesOfIsrael
Lees: Hooggerechtshof woedend over intrekken ontruiming Ulpana
