Netanyahu supports bill annexing surrounding towns into Greater Jerusalem July 27, 2017PM Netanyahu (Ohad Zweigenberg/POOL)(Ohad Zweigenberg/POOL)Netanyahu supports bill annexing surrounding towns into Greater JerusalemA bill strengthening Jerusalem and its environs has received Netanyahu’s support. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday expressed his support for a legislation bill that calls for the incorporation of towns surrounding Jerusalem into the Israeli capital, essentially annexing them to Israel in the process.The Greater Jerusalem Law, proposed by Member of Knesset (MK) Yoav Kisch, would incorporate Givat Ze’ev to the northwest of Jerusalem as well Beitar Illit and the Etzion bloc of communities, which are situated southwest of Jerusalem, and Ma’aleh Adumim, to Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries – thus creating a greater metropolitan area and, in effect, annexing those Israel communities, which serve as home to some 150,000 Israelis.The bill also proposes turning Arab villages in the area that lie outside the security barrier into an independent municipality within Greater Jerusalem.The Prime Minister’s Office stated that Netanyahu informed Kisch of his support on Wednesday and told him to bring it to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation when the Knesset returns from its recess in October, The Jerusalem Post reportedKisch said he was “glad the prime minister supports this move that would strengthen the Jewish majority in the capital, through Greater Jerusalem.”By: World Israel News Gush EtzionJerusalemKnessetMa'ale AdumimNetanyahu
