The approval Jan. 5 of the controversial electricity bill at the Knesset plenum was especially fierce, with coalition and opposition members trading accusations and shouts. Thus, the Knesset session had its embarrassing moments but also produced some pride over the wonders of Israeli democracy.

The newly approved law will enable houses built without permits to get on the grid and enjoy electricity and also to get connected to Israel’s water and sewage infrastructure. The idea behind it was to address a yearslong problem of tens of thousands of houses, mainly in Arab and Bedouin villages, built in Israel without prior building permits. Unable to produce permits, these houses were never connected to the official electric grid or were connected illegally in dangerous forms.

One of the reasons for so many houses being constructed without permits has been longstanding neglect by authorities of the Arab and Bedouin sectors in terms of development plans. It should be noted that the law will not apply to illegal villages and communities. This point is crucial, as it refutes accusations by the opposition that the law would de facto legalize unrecognized Bedouin hamlets.

According to the new law, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked (Yamina) could instruct that houses built without a permit can still be connected to the electric grid and to running water. However, there are several conditions that have to be met, including the requirement of submitting a request for a permit (for those houses already built), within the time frame of the bill. Also, they must attach bank guarantees for paying their debts.