Activists say Bezalel Smotrich of Jewish Home party lives in one of houses recently ‘legalised’ by country’s parliament

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A far-right Israeli MP who backed a controversial law retroactively “legalising” illegal Jewish outposts built on privately-owned Palestinian land will personally benefit from the legislation, because his home is one of several thousand covered by the provision, activists have revealed.

Bezalel Smotrich, who represents the Jewish Home party, praised the passage of the law in early February as a “historic day for the settlement movement and for Israel”.

He did not mention at the time that it would potentially also benefit him, by changing the status of his own home in the settlement of Kedumim. He is reportedly one of the least wealthy members of parliament, with a 15 year-old car, around £30,000 in savings and a house worth just over £200,000.

“There are around 150 homes built illegally on private land (in Kedumin), as well as public facilities including road infrastructure,” said Dror Etkes, director of the Kerem Navot NGO which focuses on land issues. “Smotrich’s house is one of them.”

Israel passes bill retroactively legalising Jewish settlements Read more

The so-called “regulation bill” passed at the start of February, retroactively legalises the construction of thousands of Jewish settler homes on privately owned Palestinian land. The original landowners are to be compensated either with money or alternative land, even if they do not agree to give up their property.

The international community deems all settlements illegal, but Israeli law distinguishes between the construction of homes on areas that the government deems “state land”, which are legal, and building projects on land owned privately by Palestinians.

A string of court cases in recent years has forced the government to demolish some homes built on private Palestinian land, including nine in a settlement called Ofra this week. The bill effectively removes the threat hanging over other similar homes.

The new law has been dubbed a “theft” and “land grab” by opponents, and condemned by the international community including the new UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres. It was even slammed by Israeli right wingers like former Likud Minister Dan Meridor, who called it “evil and dangerous”.

Palestinian councils and human rights organisations have launched a legal challenge that is expected to have a strong chance of success.

Kedumim was mapped by Israel’s Civil Administration several years ago, and data provided by Etkes shows Smotrich’s home is part of an enclave clearly outside the settlement’s boundaries.

Aerial photographs show land there was being cultivated from the 1970s to the 1990s, one measure the Israeli government uses to assess Palestinian ownership. Construction on homes began in the early 2000s.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Opposition politicians accused settlers like Smotrich of not caring about Israel’s national interests. Photograph: Youtube

Opposition politicians condemned Smotrich for putting personal gain ahead of national interest when he supported the controversial law.

“It’s living proof and a demonstration that the settlers own personal interest is what’s leading the settlers and their representatives in the Israeli parliament. They don’t care about the national and political interest of the entire public,” said Tamar Zandberg, an MP with the opposition Meretz party.

“Every principle of rule of law or basic morality is sacrificed, and in its place comes theft, occupation and settlements. They prefer taking care of their own private homes, built on stolen land, then to pursue a reasonable and achievable future for Israel.”

Smotrich could not immediately be reached for comment, his spokesman said. His office told Haaretz newspaper that “things were done as required.”

“As I have done up to now, I will continue to do – I will do all I can to protect settlement and continue to develop it as a direct continuation of the Zionist vision.”