The explosive law reaches the plenum:
Knesset members will vote today (Wednesday) on a basic bill: immigration.
The bill establishes general guidelines regarding entry into Israel, obtaining status in Israel, removal from Israel and revoking the citizenship of an Israeli resident.
The bill was led by MK Simcha Rotman of "Religious Zionism."
The Constitution Committee that discussed the law proposed that Israel be the home of the Jewish people and that it exercise its right to self-determination.
With regard to status recipients in Israel, it is proposed that it establish an annual quota of status recipients and that infiltration into Israel constitute a barrier to obtaining status.
In addition, it will not be possible to apply to the court regarding the status of a person who is not a citizen or resident of Israel.
These restrictions will not apply to the Return Law.
Additional recommendation: The Government, with the approval of the Knesset, may determine that citizens or residents of certain countries or regions will not be able to obtain status or a residence permit in Israel.
With regard to illegal residents in Israel, it is proposed to stipulate that the state will keep them outside its borders in the arrangements to be determined by law and will encourage the departure of those who cannot remove them under these arrangements, by various means to be determined by law.
Finally, it is proposed that the Basic Law shall prevail over other Basic Laws and Laws, unless it is stated in them that their validity prevails over what is stated in this Basic Law.
In addition, the law will be amended so that it can only be amended by a majority of Knesset members.
Earlier today, in the Finance Committee, Minister Shaked noted: "My immigration countries are clear - to reduce the stay of illegal residents, foreign workers and infiltrators, whether they entered legally or not."
Conflict between the coalition and the opposition
As mentioned, MK Simcha Rotman of Religious Zionism announced that Basic Law: Immigration will go to the polls after Minister Shaked "succumbed to pressure from the coalition and refused to back it from the dangerous commitments she gave to RAAM and Meretz in the Citizenship Law."
He added: "I asked for only one request - that it be withdrawn from the shameful surrender to RAAM and Meretz.
Shaked chose to remain committed to RAAM and Meretz, even though we gave every opportunity in the world and tried to reach agreements. "
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked responded: "MK Rotman was unable to obtain the consent of his opposition partners for a conclusion, and therefore withdrew from it.
The opposition again opted for petty politics instead of plugging the loophole it created.
I am sorry that they chose to prefer petty political considerations over national and security considerations. "
As you may recall, in the previous Knesset session, the coalition tried to pass the Citizenship Law, which is similar in some respects to the Basic Law: Immigration, but the proposal eventually fell through after the coalition had difficulty obtaining a majority - and were embarrassed.
