"The decision does not diminish the prime minister and defense minister's
authority, as stated in government decisions, according to which the defense
minister has the authority to approve construction and planning in the West
Bank," Barnea-Farago wrote.

Netanyahu's settlement panel won't limit Barak's influence on West Bank
building

Premier proposes committee on settlement issues in bid to appease
right-wing, settler leaders after cabinet struck down bill to regulate West
Bank outposts built on private Palestinian land.

By Barak Ravid Haaretz | Jun.14, 2012 | 2:22 PM | 9
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-s-settlement-panel-won-t-limit-barak-s-influence-on-west-bank-building-1.436397

A move by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appease settlers, by
seemingly mitigating Defense Minister Ehud Barak's pull on settlement
matters, does not in fact reduce Barak's current influence, Haaretz learned
on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu listed a number of measures he intended to
take to bolster West Bank settlement activity, in an apparent attempt to
ameliorate backlash over the cabinet's refusal to pass a bill to regulate
illegal West Bank outposts.

Specifically, the PM promised that the Beit El settlement, of which Ulpana
Hill is a neighborhood, will be expanded by 300 new homes.

In another measure, Netanyahu acceded to a long-standing settler demand by
promising to divest Barak of the sole authority to approve or veto new
construction in the settlements and transfer this authority to a ministerial
committee.

Netanyahu is due to submit the committee's formation to the cabinet's
approval on Sunday.

However, an examination of the details of that submission reveals that the
defense minister's authority on West Bank issues remains untouched.

Stating the panel's official mandate, the proposal said that the committee
would discuss unregulated settlement construction on state-owned and private
lands in the West Bank, and form government policy on the matter; discuss
government policy on principled issues surfacing in court appeals concerning
the West Bank; discuss ongoing settlement matters, and anything the premier
wishes to raise related to settlement issues.

The mandate's vague and general wording, especially that of the last clause,
raises questions as to its de-facto jurisdiction. These doubts seem to be
supported by the clarification attached to the proposal written by legal
adviser to the Prime Minister's Office, Shulamit Barnea-Farago.

"The decision does not diminish the prime minister and defense minister's
authority, as stated in government decisions, according to which the defense
minister has the authority to approve construction and planning in the West
Bank," Barnea-Farago wrote.

Barak did not voice his official position concerning the formation of the
ministerial committee on settlements, with the proposal drafted ahead of
Sunday's cabinet meetings stating that the defense minister has not yet
conveyed his stance.

In addition, the proposal indicates that the panel provides an automatic
majority to right-wing ministers.

Other than Netanyahu, Barak and Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, the panel
will also include Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Science and Technology
Minister Daniel Hershkowitz, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, Vice Prime
Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Minister Benny Begin, Public Diplomacy and Diaspora
Affairs Yuli Edelstein, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and Evironmetal
Protection Minster Gilad Erdan.