"Why did this Coalition form? It was formed to fight the biggest privatization in the history of the state of Israel– the privatization of Zionism. This reform threatens all that is dear to us." – MK Shelly Yachimovich

Despite energetic efforts by a broad-based SHATIL-coordinated coalition of social justice and environmental groups, youth movements and concerned parties from all points of the social, religious and political spectrum, the Knesset Monday passed the controversial land reform bill, which will privatize some state-owned land. However, the final version of the bill reduced the amount of land to be privatized by half the proposed amount, and includes clauses that protect the underprivileged and the environment.

"The fight was a meaningful one and full of lessons," said SHATIL's Environmental Justice Director, Avi Dabush, who coordinated the Coalition. "The Coalition that was built around this issue will examine how to proceed, but will in any case continue to monitor and campaign for the responsible management of Israel's land resources."

MKs at the conference, including MK Tzipi Livni and social and environmental lobby head MK Dov Khanin

Just last week, a visitor to the Knesset would have witnessed an amazing scene: nearly 30 Knesset members (a quarter of the Knesset!) leafing through green SHATIL folders containing information compiled by the coalition detailing the negative consequences of the proposed  law. The MKs – including Coalition members, members of all the other factions and opposition head Tzipi Livni -- were participating in an emergency conference organized by the Knesset's Social and Environmental Lobby ahead of Monday's special session vote on the proposed bill.

According to the coalition, the bill will increase social gaps and harm the environment. Indeed, a survey conducted by the ad hoc coalition found that nearly 60 percent  of the public believe the reform will only benefit the wealthy and that it betrays the public interest.

The coalition’s main argument is that the bill will privatize state land that should remain in the public trust and enable it to be sold to the highest bidder.

At the conference, MK Shelly Yachimovich warned that the bill "will enable the government to sell Masada to the highest bidder."  She volunteered her office as a situation room from which activists tirelessly lobbied MKs, sent e-mails and faxes and recruited supporters. The ad hoc coalition also launched a Hebrew-language website http://www.bibidont.com/. Last week, they celebrated a big success: The governing coalition had to stop the first Knesset vote on the bill because so many MKs had absented themselves. The next day, the headlines quoted Netanyahu vowing to fire any minister or assistant minister who votes against this reform. The battle lines were drawn.

MK Yachimovich called the broad, non-partisan coalition that formed to save "our most treasured resource" unprecedented and MK Nachman Shai said the anti-land reform coalition was one of the most encouraging things to happen in the country recently. But when push came to shove, the Labor party had to toe the Coalition line.

Opposition leader and Kadima party chief Tzipi Livni said privatizing state land is "against the national interests of the State of Israel." MK Dov Khanin, who chaired the conference, called the bill "dangerous." He congratulated the organizations involved for making the public's voice heard.

The ad hoc coalition against the land reform bill, which received support from the NIF and the Green Environment Fund, includes Yedid, Green Course, the Israel Union for Environmental Defense, Greenpeace, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and others.