A law to legalize Jewish outposts and disputed neighborhoods will be brought to a vote in the Knesset on Wednesday, and Arutz Sheva has learned that Likud ministers may vote in favor of the law, contrary to the position of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Throughout the day on Tuesday, members of the Likud Central Committee called the Likud ministers and asked them to vote in favor of the law, which was authored by MK Yaakov “Ketzaleh” Katz (National Union).

“We spoke with some Likud ministers and got clear answers from them regarding their position and vote on Ketzaleh’s law,” Likud members told Arutz Sheva. “Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom told us clearly he will vote in favor of the law, and Minister Gilad Erdan said that if the law is brought to a vote tomorrow he will support it.”

Minister Moshe Ya´alon said on Tuesday evening that “if we have no choice and there is no other solution, I will support the law.” Ministers Moshe Kachlon and Yisrael Katz have also announced that they will support the law.

If the law passes it will legalize the Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El, which the Supreme Court recently ruled must be demolished by July 1. The bill would mandate solving cases in which homes were built on private Arab land through compensation rather than destruction.

Netanyahu has already made it clear that he opposes the law and caused a vote on it that had been scheduled for last Wednesday to be postponed by refusing to allow his ministers to vote freely on the issue.

Netanyahu’s opposition to the bill caused Likud members to express concerns that he may split the Likud party and perhaps even join Kadima.

Earlier on Tuesday there were reports that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are working out a solution for the Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El, which would involve the granting of permits for new construction in Beit El, after years in which no such construction was allowed. The Ulpana neighborhood will be torn down, however.

According to Channel 10, Netanyahu met the head of the Beit El Local Authority in the course of the Yom Yerushalayim event at Merkaz HaRav yeshiva, and told him, “Things will work out fine.” (IsraelNationalNews © 2012 05/23/12)