Author: AFSI Staff

Israel green-lighted Wednesday over 2,000 new housing units for Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria, ending an eight-month de facto freeze on approval for new homes.

The Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Committee approved on Wednesday 2,166 new housing units in Judea and Samaria, with the committee expected to meet again Thursday to approve close to 3,000 additional housing units, for a total of roughly 5,000 units.

This is the first time since February that the Higher Planning Committee approved new housing units in Judea and Samaria. Also of note is that after 20 years, Pnei Kedem in Gush Etzion, will be officially recognized on the Land Registry.

Shlomo Ne’eman, Gush Etzion Regional Council head, lauded the decision: “Sovereignty is about more and more Jews who establish their homes in the land of their ancestors for now and forever. And for that, a big thank you and congratulations are due to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who despite being busy with his intense involvement in current issues, is also advancing strategic plans to strengthen our hold on Judea and Samaria.”

AFSI is pleased to see another level of development on the road to applying full Sovereignty being implemented.

Sources:
Israel approves Judea and Samaria homes, ending de facto freeze, by David Rosenberg. Arutz Sheva, October 14, 2020

After 20 years Pnei Kedem officially recognized in Land Registry, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, October 15, 2020

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan announced that he will lead a campaign to expose the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) illegitimacy and its detrimental effect on peace in the Middle East.

Erdan, who began his tenure at the UN week ago, participated in a discussion with UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini and demanded that he “end the incitement and anti-Semitism in UNRWA schools and publicly pledge to eliminate any terrorist infrastructure in its buildings.”

UNRWA staff has been embroiled in anti-Semitism scandals while its facilities have repeatedly been found to be used as weapons caches by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.

“I will lead a campaign in the UN to show UNRWA’s donor countries and the entire world the real reason there is no political process: Palestinian incitement denying the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel while demanding the Big Lie of the return of Palestinian ‘refugees,’” Erdan stated Tuesday.

Separately at the UN, Erdan slammed the election of several countries with poor rights records to the U.N. Human Rights Council.

“Today’s Human Rights Council elections prove once again that this council has nothing to do with protecting human rights and everything to do with violating them. Since 2006, the council has adopted 90 resolutions condemning Israel, more than all the resolutions against Syria, North Korea and Iran, combined,” he said in a statement.

“The obsessive focus on Israel, along with its protection of oppressive, dictatorial regimes, shows that the Human Rights Council is in the business of white-washing the crimes of these countries,” continued Erdan. “I call on all democracies that are still members of the council to immediately resign from this shameful and anti-Semitic body.”

Sources:
‘The Big Lie’: Israeli Envoy Launches Campaign Against UNRWA, by Aryeh Savir/TPS. The Jewish Link, October 14, 2020

Erdan slams UNHRC after election of countries with poor rights records, by JNS Brief. Jewish News Syndicate, October 13, 2020

Despite the extraordinary peacemaking efforts of the administration in Washington that resulted in the Abraham Accords—which precluded Israel’s plan to extend Sovereignty to Judea and Samara—the 2,000-year dream of reapplying Jewish Sovereignty to Israel’s biblical and historic heartland should not be abandoned. Re-applying Sovereignty will depend largely on the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

Source and Full Article:
Let us not abandon the sovereignty plan, by Joseph Frager. Jewish News Syndicate, October 13, 2020

Before Israel voted today to ratify the Abraham Accords, the Women in Green called upon all Ministers not to vote without a transparent and in-depth discussion first.

We understand that the agreement avoids any topics that may be “controversial,” such as a Palestinian state, the suspension of Israel’s plans to apply Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria or American arms sales to Abu Dhabi. Did Israel’s officials heed the call of the Women in Green? Only time will tell.

The Sovereignty Movement to the ministers and members of Knesset: Demand clarification and transparency before voting to ratify the agreement with the Emirates: On Sovereignty, security, the Temple Mount and not agreeing to two states.

In anticipation of the expected vote in the cabinet and the Knesset to ratify the agreement that was signed with the United Arab Emirates, the Sovereignty Movement is publishing an open call to the ministers and members of Knesset of the Right to hold a deep and genuine discussion on the clauses of the agreement.

Sources:
A Call to the Ministers: Do not vote without a transparent and in-depth discussion, by Women in Green. Arutz Sheva, October 11, 2020

Cabinet authorizes Israel-UAE peace treaty, by Lahav Harkov. Jerusalem Post, October 12, 2020

AFSI likes the Jerusalem Post Opinion piece by Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan. In it, Erdan confronted the issues that matter and have been purposely overlooked for way too long.

With the paradigm between Israel and Arab states changing, will the UN change its ways too or cling to old habits, i.e. display hate for Israel in every way possible? Who holds the UN accountable for actions that go against its own charter?

Between Ambassador Erdan’s article AFSI featured earlier this month, and his piece here, could we finally come to see the UN held accountable as it should have been over the decades?

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) just concluded its 75th session. In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled that following World War II and the Holocaust, the UN stood as a beacon for a better world. As we now face another world-transforming crisis unlike any we have ever seen, it is worth considering: Does the UN deserve another 75 years?

It appears that between the various bloated and redundant agencies and offices, the ever-expanding secretariat, professional staff and crippling bureaucracy, the UN, as it currently stands, is institutionally incapable of adapting to new realities. It may be forever doomed to live in the past, a relic of a previous age.

Source:
Does the UN deserve another 75 years?, by Gilad Erdan Jerusalem Post, October 4, 2020

Likud Knesset Member Michal Shir last week toured Samaria together with Council Chairman Yossi Dagan. The two visited the Yair Farm, Nofei Nehemia, and the Gilad Farm, and also visited the old town of Itamar. These communities may be short on luxury but make up for it with a surplus of spirituality and love of the Land.

MK Shir was shocked to discover the living conditions of residents of the young communities that remain disconnected from water and electricity, despite Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s promise two years ago to begin the connection processes immediately.

“It is very exciting to be at Havat Gilad, to see the settlement, but it’s just a pity that the citizens of the country who are fulfilling all their obligations must struggle to light a kettle, and struggle to keep their children warm in the winter,” she said.

We are very concerned that the residents of Havat Gilad continue to live without being connected water or electricity. It is unacceptable that the Netanyahu government has not made good on its pledge yet. However, instead of attacking Prime Minister Netanyahu for not coming through yet, we choose the high road and follow the example of Rabbi Raziel Shevach’s widow, Yael. Her words in the days immediately following Rabbi Raziel’s murder say it best, “We want to build it up, revenge is not Important.”

Sources:
‘Connect the young communities to electricity and water’, by Mordechai Sones. Arutz Sheva, October 6, 2020

Yael Shevach: “We Want to Build, Revenge is Not Important”, by Hidabroot. Hidabroot, October 8, 2020

The Higher Planning Council for Judea and Samaria is set to approve and advance new homes in at least 25 communities there on October 14, thereby breaking the eight-month de-facto freeze on such action.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged last week to convene the council, which last met in February, but a date and a schedule for the meeting was only posted on Sunday night.

The two-day meeting will mark the first advancement of such activity since Israel signed normalization deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Sovereignty should not be so far off! This land belongs to Israel and she has the right to build and develop it. A Sovereign nation should not cave in to politics or bow down to the interests of other nations. We pray that these homes and many more will be built in Judea and Samaria.

Source:
De-facto freeze broken, IDF to approve new West Bank settler homes, by Tovah Lazaroff. Jerusalem Post, October 5, 2020

The international open-access science journal Molecules has canceled the publication of a study by Dr. Mindy Levine from Ariel University after she refused to erase the word “Israel” in the address of the university, according to Israeli activists.

The study was originally meant to be featured in the journal’s January 2021 edition. Levine marked the address in the study as “The Department of Chemical Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan 65, Ariel, Israel.”

A group of chemists from around the world complained to Molecules that Ariel is located in occupied territory and not in Israel. The group is led by Prof. George Smith, winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and Prof. Malcolm Levitt, a fellow of the Royal Society. The group asked the journal to change the address to say, “Ariel University, illegal Israeli settlement of Ariel, Occupied Palestinian Territory,” according to the “Palestinian No Academic Business as Usual with Ariel University” initiative.

After the complaint was issued, the editors of Molecules asked Levine to remove the word Israel from the address at the head of the study, but Levine refused, and the journal canceled the publication of the study.

AFSI applauds Dr. Levine for standing up for the truth.

Source:
Ariel U. study rejected because author refused to remove ‘written in Israel’, By Tzvi Joffre. Jerusalem Post, October 5, 2020

For the first time in 30 years, Israel and Lebanon will hold direct talks on the resolution of their maritime border dispute.

The talks between the two countries, with no diplomatic ties, will be mediated by the US and hosted by the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL).

Formal news of the pending negotiations is viewed as the latest Middle East success for the Trump administration, with regard to Israel’s relations with its neighbors. It comes in the aftermath of two US brokered normalization deals between Israel and the Arab countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

“Today’s announcement is a vital step forward that serves the interests of Lebanon and Israel, of the region, and of the United States,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. “Both countries requested that the United States participate as mediator and facilitator in the maritime discussions,” he added.

Americans For A Safe Israel once again thanks President Trump for his behind the scenes work in achieving another level of “normalization” between Israel and her Arab neighbors. It’s clear to us that the expanding number of Arab and Muslim countries normalizing relations with Israel has also made the idea of negotiating with Israel publicly acceptable. We caution, however, that this is the same country that houses Hezbollah, an organization that is an arm of the terror state of Iran. Appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, Lebanon has a LONG way to go before it can be a trusted negotiating partner, regardless of whether they are willing to engage with Israel.

Source:
First Israeli-Lebanese talks in 30 years to be held on maritime dispute, by Tovah Lazaroff October 1, 2020

Gilad Erdan, former Knesset Minister, is now Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations. Read about how he plans to fight for Israel at the UN in his Arutz Sheva OpEd.

In my capacity as a minister in various Israeli cabinets, I dealt extensively with the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. I have come to know firsthand the bias and decades-long anti-Israel sentiment in the United Nations.

But despite this, I decided to begin my U.N. ambassadorship with a clear determination to fight for Israel’s reputation, to get rid of the hatred toward Israel there and to make sure that an automatic majority against it is no longer a preordained fate. I believe that now, with Arab countries embracing peace with Israel as a boon and Iranian brutality being exposed on a daily basis, there is a fighting chance at achieving this goal.

Between President Trump’s efforts to bring together Arab nations to recognize Israel, and with more negotiations with additional Arab states rumored to be underway, we are finally seeing a slowly but growing acceptance of Israel by its Arab neighbors. Could Ambassador Erdan be the one to turn around the hate Israel agenda at the United Nations? AFSI will be watching closely and wishes Ambassador Erdan yasher koach as he works to chip away at the UN’s biased agenda.

Source:
The UN must recalculate its route, by Gilad Erdan. Arutz Sheva, October 1, 2020