Author: AFSI Staff

Opinion by Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar, Co-Chairs of The Sovereignty Movement

The events surrounding the passing of the “Electricity Law” in the Knesset left all of us in a state of considerable confusion and a sense of helplessness.

The law illustrated to all of us the extent to which the dependency of the Israeli government upon an Arab party causes the loss of the government’s Jewish sovereignty. Since the establishment of this government, we are dependent upon dictates that are liable to destroy everything that was constructed here by means of hard labor in order to establish a nation state for the Jewish people – the Jewish State – a state in which the Jews are supposed to decide their fate.

Yes, the Arabs in Israel are citizens, but the national identification of their representatives in the Knesset is with the enemy, with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, whose objective is the dismantling of the State of Israel. As long as Israel is a Jewish State, it is inconceivable that Israel will submit to an Arab-Bedouin dictate. How have we deteriorated to this state of affairs?

It is not the lack of electricity in the new communities in Judea and Samaria that is the problem. Even if they ultimately connect them to the electrical grid, this is disgraceful. That connection should have been done from the outset; not as compensation for the connection of Bedouin construction. It is wrong and inappropriate to draw comparisons between the two. The new communities are, in their entirety, a Zionist undertaking intended to strengthen our foothold in the Land of Israel, and to prevent Arab infringement on Area C government lands, and it is incumbent upon the government to see to its development.

Source:
A crisis of Leadership, Governance, and Sovereignty, by Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar/Israel National News, January 10, 2022

Deputy Economy Minister Yair Golan (Meretz) on Thursday morning said that the “settlers” in the Jewish town of Homesh are “subhuman.”

The Likud party was quick to call for Golan’s removal: “We, members of the Likud faction, demand that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announce the dismissal of Deputy Minister Yair Golan today.”

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett slammed Golan’s comment: “Yair Golan’s statements about the settlers in Homesh are horrific, generalizations, and border on a blood libel.” Bennett goes on to say that the “settlements” in Judea and Samaria are today’s pioneers and that “We have not taken a foreign land….but our fathers’ inheritance.”

The term subhuman, or Untermensch, is taken direct from Nazi terminology and refers to inferior people. Golan’s shameful remark reminds us of the terrible evil brought against the Jewish people by the Nazis. Bennett needs to rise to the occasion and match his words with action. If he does not fire Golan now, Bennett is complicit in Golan’s incitement against the Jewish people.

Sources:
Meretz minister: ‘Settlers in Homesh are subhuman’, by Israel National News, January 6, 2022

Likud: Bennett must fire minister who called settlers ‘subhuman’, by Israel National News, January 6, 2022

On Tuesday morning, large police forces arrived at Homesh and disconnected and sabotaged the electrical system of the Homesh Yeshiva. They demolished structures and tents of families who came to strengthen and support the people of Homesh.

Samaria Council head, Yossi Dagan, sharply attacked the government: “The Israeli government has lost its compass. There’s never been such a thing. This is the first time that instead of fighting the terrorists, the government’s response on the ground is to fight the victims, to fight the settlement enterprise. The responsibility for the destruction lies first and foremost with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

The Homesh yeshiva issued a statement: “Some people think that the murder of Yehuda Dimentman is a good opportunity to reward terrorism and innovate and implement the disengagement plan again. We call on the public to continue to come and support us, strengthen our hold on Homesh, and thus prevent the destruction of the yeshiva!”

Note to our readers: As mentioned in our December 23 newsletter, AFSI has been in touch with the Yeshiva in Homesh and in the coming weeks we will have information on how you can help them. Stay tuned.

Source:
Bennett Destroys Homesh for the Third Time, by David Israel/Jewish Press, January 4, 2022

Daniella Weiss is head of the Nahala organization and one of the heads of the Gush Emunim movement. In an interview with Israel National News – Arutz Sheva, she discussed the recently passed Electricity Law, which she sees as yet another step the current government is taking toward the abyss.
“This was a shocking, terrible moment in the history of Zionism,” Weiss said. “I actually think that it was the moment at which the government sealed its own fate – it’s going to fall.”

Weiss had hoped that at the very least, the Electricity Law would also be applied to the “Young Settlements” in Judea and Samaria, enabling not just Negev Bedouins but also Jews in new towns to connect their homes to the power grid. But her hopes were dashed. “At various points I thought that maybe, just maybe there could be a measure of equality, even in this corrupt government that relies on Arabs and the extreme left. But nothing came of my hopes. This government has to be stopped and sent packing.”

Source:
Daniella Weiss: Government must go, but Netanyahu was not loyal to the land of Israel, by Yoni Kempinski, Israel National News, January 6, 2022

On Sunday, Former Knesset Speaker and Health Minister MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) launched the “Homesh First” Knesset lobby and conducted a tour of the north Samarian community together with six opposition Knesset members as well as Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan.

“In order to prevent the next expulsion and the loss of territory in Judea and Samaria and the Negev,” Edelstein said, “I have established this ‘Homesh First’ lobby whose aim is to renew Jewish settlement in northern Samaria and to repopulate the communities that were evacuated.

Dagan stated that the Homesh First Lobby is “…an expression of strength against this government.”

AFSI stands in solidarity with the Homesh First Lobby. As the government continues its destructive path with rewards to terrorism, the residents of Homesh and other Israeli officials, are sending a clear message that they will not tolerate another expulsion of a Jewish community.

Source:
A clear message to the Prime Minister from Homesh: You won’t drive us out, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, January 2, 2022

In a rare incident, Gazan terrorists targeted Israeli military helicopters with shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles over the Strip early Sunday morning during airstrikes carried out by the Israel Defense Forces.

Hamas has claimed that it did not fire the rockets intentionally, but that they were triggered by inclement weather. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett responded that Israel was not interested in such excuses. “All of Hamas’s stories about thunder and lighting, which we hear winter after winter, are not relevant anymore,” said Bennett. “Whoever aims rockets at the State of Israel must take responsibility.”

In light of Bennett’s recent string of activity to appease the PA, can we find comfort in his statement in defense of Israel’s security? We hope so but only time will tell.

Source:
Anti-aircraft missiles fired at IDF helicopters during Gaza strike, but miss, by Judah Ari Gross and TOI Staff, January 2, 2022

Senior representatives of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and various countries around the world hailed the rare meeting Tuesday between Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The meeting took place at Gantz’s house in Rosh Ha’ayin. According to an unconfirmed source, Bennett was informed of the meeting ahead of time, and “criticized Gantz’s intention to hold the meeting, and expressed resentment about the hosting of [Abbas] in Gantz’s home.” Here, the 1st time in over 10 years that Abu Mazzen visits Israel, and it is at the invitation of the Defense Minister and presumptive future Prime Minister!to meet him at home! Ludicrous is an understatement.

So why wasn’t Gantz stopped from holding this meeting? Going ahead with this meeting demonstrates Gantz’s own self-centered political interests and Bennett’s inability to reign him in.

As Israel continues to defend itself from a rise in violent terror attacks, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government is working hard to bolster and advance the PA. Yes, he acts outraged, but Bennett’s government (through Gantz) has promised to advance 100 million shekels in tax payments to the PA while clearly one third of their budget still goes to the pay for slay program. The “benefits package” agreed upon also grants other enhanced treatment for various ordinary residents and VIPs in Judea Samaria and Gaza. Gantz calls this confidence building, but at what cost to Israel. Confidence busting is the least of it.

Talk of construction of new homes and of concessions that could ultimately threaten Israel’s security is criminal in light of the urgency to advance basic needs and development in Judea and Samaria and all of Israel. The Electricity Law which just passed its 2nd and third readings in the committee stage virtually legalizes the theft of land. MK Orit Strook called it out for what it is, pointing clearly to the inequity presented. If the illegally built Arab homes are allowed to connect to the power grid, then by right all the young Jewish settlements should be able to do the same, she rightly maintained.

Let’s not forget that talk of the application of Sovereignty should be Bennett’s #1 concern. It’s time to call out Bennett for what he has revealed himself to be….at best ineffective and at worst A TRAITOR TO HIS OWN PEOPLE.

Source:
World cheers Gantz-Abbas meeting, hopes for continued cooperation in 2022, by Jacob Magid/Times of Israel, December 30, 2021

The Electricity Law has passed its second and third readings in committee stage, after all revisions and objections were rejected.

Before voting began, Taha, the committee’s chairman, had MK Itamar Ben Gvir removed from the committee room. Ben Gvir had been broadcasting proceedings via Facebook Live.

“This law will ensure that tens of thousands of homes can be connected to the power grid,” said Taha. “Electricity is a fundamental right and not a punitive tool. This law will encourage proper planning and ensure that all fees are paid. It will advance equality between citizens.”

MK Bezalel Smotrich responded: “This is a law that promotes anarchy and destroys the few incentives remaining to people who built illegally, to regularize the status of their construction. Once they are connected to electricity, water, telephone, and internet, none of these lawbreakers will have the slightest motivation to do what is required to obtain full approval for the buildings they erected.”

This is a sad example of another betrayal by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. If the Electricity Law is so important to him, then as MK Orit Strook stated, “…Bennett must now regularize the status of the young settlements at the very next cabinet meeting.”

Source:
Electricity Law passes in committee, Ben Gvir ejected before voting begins, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, December 28, 2021

The Israeli government approved a NIS 1 billion plan to develop the Golan Heights. The plan will at least double its Jewish population and allow for the creation of two new towns in the region.

The plan will upgrade infrastructure, establish new localities and neighborhoods, and develop 2,000 jobs. The two new localities will be called “Asif” and “Matar”, each of which will include about 2,000 housing units. Also invested will be 160 million shekels in transportation infrastructure. In addition, the emergency medicine system will be upgraded and extensive investment in education and tourism will be promoted.

“We are making history in the Golan,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett tweeted in advance of the vote at a special meeting at Kibbutz Mevo Hamma in the Golan Heights.

AFSI is pleased to report on this positive development for Israel. In contrast to his recent appeasement of the Arabs, Bennett’s government has now made the need to invest and develop the Golan a “top priority for Zionism.” It also solidifies Israel’s position that the Golan will forever belong to Israel and the Israeli people.

Sources:
Israel approves NIS 1b. plans for Golan Heights, will build two new towns, by Tovah Lazaroff/Jerusalem Post, December 26, 2021

Government to approve plan for development of the Golan, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, December 26, 2021

The right and left are in consensus about the Golan, by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett/Israel Hayom, December 24, 2021

The government demolished the Homesh Yeshiva last Friday. In an Arutz Sheva OpEd, The Sovereignty Movement appealed to the Bennett government: Instead of destroying, build Homesh! Preserve the Homesh Yeshiva!

“Mr. Prime Minister, you were absent yesterday during the spiritually exalted level of those present in Homesh, had you come, you would have been strengthened by the powerful and resolute spirit of the thousands who came to say: The Land of Israel is ours! Homesh is ours! The time has come for sovereignty!

How can one descend from yesterday’s high spiritual level to the unprecedented low of the destruction of the structures around the Homesh yeshiva, a yeshiva that is entirely self-sacrifice, a yeshiva that preserves the embers of the Zionist values that bind us to our wonderful Land?

Where are you leading the country? In a normal country – the homes of the murderers would wiped off the map, the entire village would be exiled beyond our borders.”

While AFSI appreciates the good that is being done in the Golan, this travesty negates any good feeling we have in hearing about it. Israel needs to be sovereign in ALL of Israel, including Judea and Samaria, not just the parts that are convenient at the moment.

Sources:
Sovereignty Movement to Bennett: Build Homesh, don’t destroy it!, by Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar/Israel National News, December 24, 2021

Days After the Murder, Bennett Government Demolishes Parts of Homesh, by David Israel/Jewish Press, December 24, 2021