The law preventing the reunification of families of Palestinians from the territories and Israeli Arabs will not be extended for two more years, as requested by the defense establishment. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Knesset Interior and Environment Committee chairman, MK Ghaleb Majadele (Labor), agreed that the law would only be extended for two more months.
The Emergency Order on which the current law is based expires on January 16, and therefore there is great urgency to complete the legislation so that it can be brought before the Knesset for a second and third reading.
It is expected that Livni will bring the bill before the cabinet for its approval on Sunday, and the plenum will be asked to vote on it Monday.
Majadele, who Labor leader Amir Peretz announced this week will be appointed Minister of Science, Sport and Culture, told Haaretz on Thursday that he convinced Livni to extend the Emergency Order for only two more months, in order to send a message to the Palestinians that Israel wishes to renew peace talks.
He stressed that during the two months he will hold meetings at the Knesset Interior Committee to modify the law to minimize the humanitarian difficulties it poses to families.
Earlier this week, a representative for the Shin Bet told the Knesset Interior Committee that 38 of the 272 suicide bombings carried out inside Israel involved terrorists with Israeli identity cards ¬ received on the basis of family reunification.
Deputy Attorney General Mike Blass also told the committee that it is essential to extend the law for a considerable period of time because the security threat has not diminished.
Blass added that the law tries to strike a balance between humanitarian and security considerations.
Attorney Yochi Gnesin, of the Justice Ministry, said that there is a rise in the number of women involved in terrorist attacks, including married women, widows and educated women.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel condemned the law arguing that it constitutes collective punishment and is a blatant violation of the rights of the individual.