“MINE–FREE ISRAEL” BILL PROPOSAL WINS
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT AND KNESSET
July 25, 2010—Jerusalem—An unprecedented bill proposal for a mine-free Israel, co–sponsored by
73 MKs from all factions, received unanimous support of the Ministerial Committee on Legislation
and proceeded to pass preliminary reading with a unanimous vote of the Knesset's plenum.
The campaign for a Mine–Free Israel has been working for the past two years to ensure that the government, the army, local communities and international agencies work together to clear the minefields that no longer
protect, but instead threaten lives. According to a bill proposal drafted by the campaign's legal staff and
presented to the Knesset by MK Tzahi Hanegbi (Kadmia), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee, Israel would establish a Mine Action Authority and start a multi–year process of clearing
landmines according to humanitarian demining protocols.
11–year-old landmine survivor, Daniel Yuval, became the campaign's Youth Ambassador, and sent letters to the Ministers and Knesset Members urging them to vote in favor of the bill, saying: “When I awoke from the
surgery and saw my right leg amputated, I told my mom that I wanted that no one will get hurt by landmines
again, and I mean to do something about that... Now it's your turn, as a member of government and a parent
that has kids at risk of being hurt from landmines, to support this bill and make Israel mine-free.”
The bill proposal, co-sponsored by 73 MKs from the coalition and the opposition, received the unanimous support of the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on July 11, and proceeded to pass preliminary reading at
the Knesset's plenum on July 14. At a speech before the plenum during this first out of three stages of voting
on the bill, MK Hanegbi commended the role of international involvement in helping Israel become minefree:
“There are individuals such as Jerry White, who is a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize together with
his organization 'Survivor Corps', and Heidi Kühn, who heads the organization 'Roots of Peace' .. who joined
forces with the members who signed the bill, and are helping us with their rich experience.”
Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General (res.) Matan Vilnai (Labor), speaking at a Mine–Free Israel reception in Tel Aviv on June 30, said that he is happy for this initiative and will support it wholeheartedly in
the government and in the Ministry of Defense. Earlier that same day, members of the Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee joined Heidi Kühn, Founder and CEO of Roots of Peace, for a ceremony of planting an
olive tree in the Baptismal Site of Jesus near Jericho, where thousands of landmines surround ancient world
heritage monasteries and endanger the lives of pilgrims and worshipers. Roots of Peace is launching an
initiative to restore holy sites contaminated by military litter, and to transform minefields in the Holy Land
into vines and orchards.
####
Click HERE to read the transcribed speeches from the preliminary reading of the Mine Action Bill, July 14, 2010.
|
