Hours after an Israeli High Court rejected their petition, Arabs tried to stop the construction of a security fence around the village of Shaked.
Yossi Dagan, the head of the Samaria Regional Council, made it clear that the work will continue. “The time has come to stop the Palestinian Authority from taking control of state land in Judea and Samaria, which is part of the PA’s broad plan to take over Area C and establish facts on the ground.”
Thursday morning, security forces evacuated two structures that were placed in the Amona community – an area that was legally purchased by Jews. The structures (caravans) were brought to Amona in response to the terror attacks in the area in recent weeks.
Bennett’s New Right Party is speaking out calling this action selective enforcement rather than a solution to bureaucratic issues.
MK Betzalel Smotrich, who is with the young people in Amona, told Army Radio this morning that it was “a sad and unnecessary event. The prime minister refuses to evacuate Khan al-Ahmar and Amona, which was purchased legally.”
The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel will draft plans for new construction — possibly as much as 2,500 homes — on a hill in the Efrat community.
Though unsuccessful in the past, the Jewish communities in Efrat renewed their campaign for construction following the recent murder of Ari Fuld.
In what Arutz Sheva calls the “Shaked revolution,” a Jerusalem District Court hears the first Yesha petition from Judea and Samaria under a new law relieving the burden on the Supreme Court.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked initiated the new law, which is intended to normalize the legal situation of Judea and Samaria.
Plans to build 1,113 housing units in Judea and Samaria were approved this week by a sub-committee of the Supreme Planning Council.
The head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Shlomo Neeman said this sends an important message to those “…who are sabotaging the prosperity and success…” of the communities in Judea and Samaria. “After the difficult evacuation of Netiv Ha’avot last June, we are now building and growing, and we will continue to do so.”
On Monday, more than 50 Knesset members signed a pledge that confirmed their “deep solidarity with the roots of the Jewish people in Hebron,” just days before a conference organized by an Arab Knesset member was set to call for the expulsion of all Jews from the city. Story HERE.
Too many Jewish lives have been lost to terror. Constant surrender to terror – ceasefires – will only do damage to the security of Israel in the long run.
That was the crux of former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman’s argument nearly six weeks ago when he resigned in response to another ceasefire with militants in Gaza. It was also the breaking point of a government about to collapse.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the parties in his coalition decided to disperse the Knesset this week and hold an early general election on April 9.
PM Netanyahu said now that the urgent security matter of the Hezbollah terror tunnels has been dealt with, proceeding with early elections is possible.
In the wake of President Trump’s surprise announcement that the US will pull out of Syria, the feedback continues.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot remarked publicly for the first time about the US pullout. Read what he said, HERE.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked says it’s “bad for Israel” and good for Erdogan.
Caroline Glick discusses the pros and cons of Trump’s decision HERE.
JNS-Jewish National Syndicate reports that secret talks reached an understanding with Russia that will enable Israel to retain the freedom to attack Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria.
In his Arutz Sheva OpEd, AFSI Chairman Mark Langfan thinks President Trump is clever!
In a tweet yesterday t that surprised and shocked the world, President Donald Trump announced,“We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.”
Two days before the decision was announced, PM Netanyahu was contacted by President Trump who advised him about the US decision to pull out from Syria. Netanyahu also received a follow-up phone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this week. Netanyahu said, “They made it clear that they have other ways of expressing their influence in the area. This is, of course, an American decision. We will study its timetable, how it will be implemented and – of course – its implications for us. In any case we will take care to maintain the security of Israel and to defend ourselves in this area.”
Yet, the unofficial reaction from Israel is disappointment.
United States Senators say that leaving Syria will have grave consequences for both the US and Israel and “great benefits” for the enemies.
In a preliminary reading in the Knesset, the “fabric of life in settlement” bill, also known as the “Regulation Law 2” was approved on Wednesday.
The bill was initiated by MK Bezalel Smotrich of the Jewish Home and MK Yoav Kish of Likud, heads of the Land of Israel Caucus in the Knesset (both pictured here).
The purpose of the bill is to preserve the special status of young communities in Judea and Samaria that are in prolonged processes of normalization, a normalization that must include water and electricity. Just as Judea and Samaria residents have responsibilities, they must also have rights.
We are pleased to see steps toward full normalization building in the right direction.
