The Israeli parliament (Knesset) has postponed discussion about a controversial bill backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that appears to target Arab lawmakers of the legislative body.

The bill that would enable the parliament to strip lawmakers of the right to vote on draft legislation was set to be discussed on Tuesday, but the discussion of the draft was postponed due to a lack of consensus within the right-wing ruling coalition.

If approved, the parliament would be given powers to prevent any lawmaker from voting on draft legislation by a qualified three quarters majority.

Netanyahu vowed to push ahead with the bill after three Arab members of the parliament met earlier this month with the families of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces over alleged attacks in an attempt to help them retrieve the bodies of their beloved for burial.

The Israeli premier in reaction accused the lawmakers from the Balad party of “building walls of hatred” and announced plans for promoting a law that would disqualify lawmakers who follow suit.

The Israeli regime refrains from returning the bodies of those killed in clashes with its forces in order to prevent mass protests that usually follow funerals.

The three lawmakers have been barred from participating in committee meetings or parliamentary debates since Monday, but they are still allowed to vote on all draft legislation.

Ayman Odeh, the head of the Joint List alliance in the Knesset, has already condemned the bill and defended the three lawmakers, saying, “The prime minister continues with his methods of deceit and incitement.”

“According to Netanyahu, he should rule like a caesar, and the Knesset should be run by the tyranny of the majority,” he added.

The occupied Palestinian territories have been the scene of heightened tensions over the past several months. The latest wave of tensions was triggered by Israel’s imposition in August 2015 of restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Nearly 180 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since the beginning of last October.