On Monday, 26 February 2018, the Knesset approved in the first reading a bill that legalises the conditions set by Israeli authorities for the funerals of martyrs, who carried out operations. The bill is applicable if those martyrs are from areas under the so-called “Israeli sovereignty”, including Jerusalem. However, such a bill immediately turns into a military regulation that is enforced to the West Bank.
The bill introduces further provisions to the Anti-terrorism Law, which was approved earlier in 2016. The bill provides that financial guarantees will be paid by martyrs’ families or their representatives to ensure the implementation of the conditions set for funerals or burials.
The bill vests the Police Commander of the Area with the power to set conditions, or even determine the burial place, reportedly taking into account the concerned family’s position. In some cases, the “powers” extend to postponing the handing over of corpses up to 10 days. Then, the “powers” of delivering the corpses are transferred to the Army Chief of Staff, but an obligatory time limit for the delivery is not prescribed. Compared to 12 MKs from opposition parties, a total of 56 MKs for the government coalition and opposition blocs voted in favour of the bill.
