Netanyahu advances settlement expansion plan in West Bank, says “there will be no Palestinian state”
Jerusalem/Amman: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signed an agreement to advance construction in a settlement area east of Jerusalem that critics say would block the possibility of a future Palestinian state, as reported by Al Jazeera.
The project, known as “E1,” covers about 12 square kilometres near Maale Adumim, an Israeli settlement east of Jerusalem. The plan includes 3,400 new housing units and would connect surrounding settlements while severing much of the West Bank from East Jerusalem.
Speaking at a ceremony in Maale Adumim on Thursday, Netanyahu said the government was committed to preventing the creation of a Palestinian state. “We are going to fulfil our promise that there will be no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us,” he said, pledging to double the city’s population.
Strongly opposing the expansion plan the presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh noted that the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is necessary for regional peace. He also termed the two-state solution as "inevitable." He urged countries who have not yet recognised Palestine to do so.
“All settlements are illegal under international law,” Rudeineh said, accusing Netanyahu of endangering regional stability.
The United Nations has affirmed that 149 of its member states already recognise Palestine. Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967, maintains that the E1 development is part of its long-term settlement policy.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
