Israel’s Attorney General has said that he won’t defend the controversial Regulation Bill in the courts, even if it is given final Knesset approval today.

Avichai Mandelblit has told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would not support the government’s position on the legislation in any future court challenge. Over the weekend, Netanyahu asked coalition chairman, Likud MK David Bitan, to present the bill for second and third Knesset readings today.

The legislation, known as the Regulation Bill, proposes to retroactively legalise a number of West Bank outposts built on private Palestinian land. Spearheaded by Jewish Home, the bill will allow settlers the retroactive right to live in outposts which were established with government help. It is estimated that in its current form, the bill will legalise around 4,000 West Bank homes. An initial vote in the Knesset last month was carried by 60 votes in favour and 49 against.

However, the bill would not retroactively legalise the Amona outpost, which is set for evacuation next week following a High Court ruling.

The wording of the original Regulation Bill was adjusted to reflect the court’s decision, following a demand by coalition partner Kulanu. Nonetheless, Amona residents have demanded passage of the Regulation Bill as a condition of their peaceful removal.

Confirming that the bill will be submitted to the Knesset today, Netanyahu said: “The law is designed to normalise the status of Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria [West Bank] once and for all and [to] prevent recurrent attempts to harm the settlement enterprise.”

Mandelblit warned that the bill is unconstitutional and would result in lawsuits against Israel in the International Criminal Court, which is “already examining the possibility of taking us to court on the issue of settlements”.

Opposition leader and Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog pleaded with government members not to pass the bill by saying: “I call on the coalition legislators to act responsibly and oppose the bill.”