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Israeli PM drops settler bill that sparked uproar

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AP Jerusalem
Israel's prime minister has abandoned a contested labour bill for female settlers that critics claimed would entrench Israeli control of the West Bank.

Benjamin Netanyahu's office said today that a military decree would replace the proposed legislation and make labour laws in the West Bank for both Israeli and Palestinians women mirror those in Israel.

A pro-settler party lawmaker said she pushed for the bill after learning of pregnant settlers who'd been unfairly fired.

Critics said the true intent of the bill was to enact a creeping annexation over the Israeli controlled areas Palestinians want for a state.

Israel has never annexed the West Bank and it technically remains under military rule. Israel relies heavily on military decrees, rather than parliament, for laws in the region.

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First Published: Oct 13 2013 | 9:15 PM IST

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