ISRAELI LAWMAKERS PASS BILL TO BLOCK GOLAN PULLOUT.(MAIN)

Byline: LEE HOCKSTADER Washington Post

JERUSALEM -- The Israeli Parliament -- including much of the governing coalition -- on Wednesday backed a bill designed to block withdrawal from the Golan Heights and a peace treaty with Syria, undercutting the Middle East peace policy of Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

The vote in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, was the most serious political blow dealt to Barak in eight stormy months in office. Although the legislation now goes to committee and is unlikely to become law anytime soon, the vote raised serious doubts about Barak's ability to sustain domestic support for a peace deal even if he is able to reach one with …