Golan Heights Law

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The Golan Heights Law is the Israeli Knesset's law, ratified on December 14, 1981, which applies Israel's laws to the Golan Heights.

The law was passed half a year before Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai in a rare third hearing which was heavily criticized by the centre-left opposition. It was also criticized for potentially hindering future negotiations with Syria.

While the Israeli public at large, and especially the law's critics, viewed it as an annexation, the law avoided use of the word.

Prime Minister of Israel Menahem Begin responded to Amnon Rubinstein's criticism by noting it was a "special legal proposal" and saying: "you use the word 'annexation', I do not use it. So it is written in the [1967] law."

[edit] The law

The three broad provisions in the Golan Heights Law are:

1. "The Law, jurisdiction and administration of the State will take effect in the Golan Heights, as described in the Appendix."

2. "This Law will begin taking effect on the day of its acceptance in the Knesset."

3. "The Minister of the Interior is placed in-charge of the implementation of this Law, and is entitled, in consultation with the Minister of Justice, to enact regulations for its implementation and to formulate regulations on interim provisions regarding the continued application of regulations, directives, administrative directives, and rights and duties which were in effect in the Golan Heights prior to the acceptance of this Law."

Signed: