Likud Negotiates with Ra'am to Halt Bedouin Home Demolitions in Negev for Media Law Support

The Likud party is reportedly negotiating with the Arab Ra'am party to secure support for a controversial law aimed at weakening the media, in exchange for halting demolitions of Bedouin homes in the Negev region. The talks come amid Likud's concern that it may not muster a majority to pass the legislation. Ra'am demands a complete stop to the demolitions as a condition for abstaining from the vote.

Central to the negotiations is Ra'am MK Walid al-Hawashla, the only Arab member on the special committee formed to discuss the media law. Likud has previously approached al-Hawashla to either abstain or support the bill, but he refused. Recently, senior Likud officials renewed their efforts, directly asking him what he would require to stay away from the committee vote.

Officially, Ra'am denies cooperating with Likud, yet sources reveal al-Hawashla, a Negev resident, is willing to consider abstention only if demolitions of Arab homes in the Negev cease entirely. Likud has not rejected this demand and remains open to further negotiations. This potential deal highlights a political trade-off where a coalition known for enforcing demolitions might pause them to advance the media law.

Likud responded to the report by denying the claims, calling them "fabrications" and "spin by the Arab parties." The outcome of these talks could significantly impact the passage of the media legislation and the future of home demolitions in the Negev.

Summary: Likud is negotiating with Ra'am to halt Bedouin home demolitions in the Negev in exchange for Ra'am's support or abstention on a law weakening the media, amid Likud's struggle to secure a majority. Ra'am demands a full stop to demolitions, and Likud has not rejected this condition, though it officially denies the talks.

Points: - Likud seeks Ra'am's support to pass a law weakening the media amid majority concerns. - Ra'am demands a complete halt to Bedouin home demolitions in the Negev in exchange. - MK Walid al-Hawashla is central to the negotiations as the only Arab member on the media law committee. - Likud has asked al-Hawashla what it would take for him to abstain from the vote. - Likud denies the negotiations, calling them "spin" by Arab parties. - The deal could pause demolitions to secure the media law's passage.

Topic: politics

Entities: {"people":["Walid al-Hawashla","Mansour Abbas","Galit Distel-Atbaryan"],"organizations":["Likud","Ra'am"],"places":["Negev"]}