Early on 14 December Mr. Begin surprised his own ministers when he summoned them to his sick-bed in Jerusalem and informed them that he intended to pass a law that very same day extending Israeli law to the Golan Heights. Having secured cabinet approval, the law was adopted by the Knesset later that evening by a majority of 63 against 21. Among those in favor were eight members of the Labor Party opposition. Mr. Begin argued that the time had come to implement the government's policy regarding the Golan Heights and cited Syria's implacable hostility to Israel. He reminded the ministers that the Syrian president had recently rejected any ties with Israel, even if the PLO would recognize Israel. Another reason for the timing of the passage of the law was the continued presence of Syrian missiles in Lebanon. Text:
1. The Law, jurisdiction and administration of the state shall apply to the Golan Heights, as described in the Appendix.
2. This Law shall become valid on the day of its passage in the Knesset.
3. The Minister of the Interior shall be charged with the implementation of this Law, and he is entitled, in consultation with the Minister of Justice, to enact regulations for its implementation and to formulate in regulations transitional provisions concerning the continued application of regulations, orders, administrative orders, rights and duties which were in force on the Golan Heights prior to the application of this Law.