Category: Articles

The population in Judea and Samaria now makes up more than half a million people and crosses a major threshold. Community leaders predicted even faster population growth under Israel’s new ultranationalist government.

WestBankJewishPopulationStats published the report which is based on official figures that showed the population grew to 502,991 as of Jan. 1, rising more than 2.5% in 12 months and nearly 16% over the last five years.

The stats report is compiled by Former Member of Knesset Yaakov “Ketzaleh” Katz (National Union Party). In some years, Ketzaleh publishes an additional 6-month report after June 30.

Source:
Israeli settler population in West Bank surpasses 500K, by Reuters via Ynetnews, February 2, 2023

Friday night’s attack near the Neve Yaakov synagogue was the deadliest attack on Jewish worshippers Israel has seen since 2014. Friday night’s terrorist, Hayeri Alkam, appears to have acted alone. 45 suspects related to him were arrested, including his parents.

The seven victims are: Asher Natan, 14, Eli Mizrahi, 48, and his wife Natalie, 45, and Rafael Ben Eliyahu, 56, a resident of Neve Yaakov, whose son was seriously injured in the attack. Also identified were Shaul Chai, 68, a Gabai of a nearby shul; Ilya Sosnasky, age 26, and Irina Korolova.

On Saturday evening, Motzei Shabbat, a terrorist armed with a handgun was identified at the outskirts of the community of Kedumim and was neutralized by the community’s civilian security team. Also on Saturday, a report was received regarding a shooting attack at the Almog Junction. A terrorist arrived at a restaurant, fired one bullet, and fled the scene. After the terrorist fired one bullet, a firearm malfunction occurred, and he was unable to continue shooting.

As can be expected, Israel’s defense forces are exercising self-defense as they prepare for potential copycat attacks along with a response to this violation of Israel’s sovereignty. AFSI mourns the loss of the 7 innocent victims. We express our condolences to the families of those murdered in this horrific terror attack. We pray that the injured have a speedy recovery and that everyone in the community returns to normal life as soon as possible.

Sources:
7 Neve Yaakov Terror Victims Identified, by David Israel/Jewish Press, January 28, 2023

Weekend of terror: Terrorist neutralized in Samaria, by Israel National News, January 29, 2023

Arab starts to shoot in restaurant, but gun jams at last moment, by Israel National News, January 28, 2023

Likud MK Dannny Danon attacked a “Breaking news” update published on the New York Times website regarding the deadly terror attack in Jerusalem.

The update read: “A gunman killed at least five people at an east Jerusalem synagogue after a deadly month in the occupied West Bank”. Danon replied on Twitter and wrote: “Shame on you New York Times.”

There’s no credibility to be given for the ongoing Jew hatred reporting that comes from America’s “paper of record.” However, while AFSI loathes reporting even the slightest bit on this pathetic and unprofessional “news” source, we ask you – on behalf of Israel – TAKE ACTION! Call The New York Times today and tell them you’ve had enough of their biased and anti-Semitic reporting: (855) 698-1157.

Source:
Danon attacks NY Times headline: “Shame on you”, by Israel National News, January 28, 2023

MKs Moshe Solomon and Ohad Tal from the Religious Zionist Party on Sunday arrived for a visit at the yeshiva in Homesh. They came to visit as part of the process of enacting the law that would repeal the disengagement from northern Samaria. The law is expected to be brought up for a vote in the Knesset soon.

The two promised to make sure that their election promise is fully kept and that the law will be repealed. On the heels of Friday night’s terrible synagogue attack, MK Tal said, “the proper Zionist answer to this is simply to do what we promised in the election campaign. Repeal the disengagement law and return the Jewish settlement here to this place.”

We have faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Now we eagerly anticipate the implementation of critically needed actions – as promised.

Source:
MKs in Homesh: The answer to the massacre – a repeal of the disengagement law, by Israel National News, January 30, 2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government is poised to take a series of steps that could result in a massive increase in the population of Jewish communities in Judea in Samaria over the coming years.

The plan’s components include convening the Higher Planning Council in Judea and Samaria as soon as possible and approving some 18,000 new housing units in the coming months. The plan also calls for having the council meet regularly every month rather than once every three months under previous Netanyahu governments and only twice during the past year under the shared premiership of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.

This plan will drastically reduce red-tape that limits housing construction and finally see it expedited. It will also expand the application of Israeli law in Judea and Samaria.

Sources:
Gov’t plan could see settlement population increase by hundreds of thousands, by Tuchfeld/Israel Hayom, January 25, 2023

Netanyahu government preparing to fast-track settlement construction in move critics dub ‘mini-annexation’, by World Israel News Staff, January 25, 2023

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has decided that the powers over the management of civilian life in Judea and Samaria will be transferred to Minister Bezalel Smotrich despite the opposition of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

According to the report, the struggle for powers in the Defense Ministry reached a climax in a heated meeting in which Netanyahu, Gallant, Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and other senior officials participated.

Authority over military matters and matters of illegal construction by Jews and Palestinian Arabs would remain with COGAT. Since these are actions with security and policy implications, all decisions will be made subject to the Prime Minister’s oversight.

Civilian life in Judea and Samaria has been waiting for a new day to begin and we trust we can count on MK Smotrich to implement the long overdue changes needed there.

Source:
Netanyahu transfers powers over Judea and Samaria to Smotrich over Gallant’s objections, by Israel National News, January 25, 2023

Terrorism on the roads of Judea and Samaria is on the rise, and since this morning, at least 30 stone throwing attacks, six Molotov Cocktail attacks, and a number of other attacks have been committed against Israelis.

Several Jewish vehicles were stoned on the road between Tapuach and Ariel, one after the other. One person was lightly injured. Near Yakir, two vehicles and a bus were stoned.

The attacks follow Thursday morning’s successful counterterrorism operation in the Jenin refugee camp, in the course of which terrorists actively plotting a major attack were eliminated.

Source:
Over 30 terrorist attacks since this morning, by Israel National News, January 26, 2023

For the third weekend in a row Tel Aviv had thousands of protesters out on the street. Initially the protests were allegedly against the proposed judicial reforms, but many Israelis believe that the real protest is against a right-wing government. PLO flags can be seen amongst the protesters. Anti-Zionist slogans are abundant.

Just last Wednesday, Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced sweeping changes that would reverse the power grab by Aharon Barak that was engineered over the last 30 years. Barak’s grab gave the Supreme and High Courts power over the Executive and Legislative branches of the Israeli government. The Courts appoint themselves, the Attorney General and the legal advisors to the ministries. The justices can overrule all the elected officials using standards they set and are accountable to no one for the consequences of their decisions.

Melanie Phillips explains: “The courts control the appointment of not only their justices but also the attorneys who must appear before them—who therefore lack the independence essential in a democratic system—and even place a legal adviser in every ministerial office, with the power to veto any government policies to which the adviser objects.

These powers, which are unprecedented in any other modern democracy, are anti-democratic because they give unelected judges the power to strike down laws and policies enacted by those elected by the public to govern them. The judges can then impose their preferred policies.”

We pray that the type of reforms Minister Levin put forth are adopted with all due alacrity. We believe that all branches of Israel’s government as well as the general populace will benefit as democracy is restored. Overruling the Knesset’s decision to appoint Aryeh Deri as a minister and the specter of the Attorney general considering declaring the Prime Minister unfit to hold office are two glaring examples of judicial egregious overreach.

Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid agrees that reform is necessary. He would like to have a presidential committee decide how to best reform the system, even though there is a system and committee in place in the government to make such decisions.

Sources:
Knesset Opposition Leader Yair Lapid Now Supports Judicial Reform, by Jewish Press News Desk, January 23, 2023

Unhinged: The Reaction to Israel’s New Israeli Government, by Melanie Phillips/Jewish Press, January 23, 2023

Israeli defense Minister ordered the evacuation of an outpost in Samaria built in memory of Rabbi Chaim Druckman, z’l. Finance Minister Smotrich and Otzma Yehudit’s Israeli National Security Minister disagreed with that order. As Smotrich is also a Minister in the Defense Department he issued an order stopping the evacuation. Apparently that order was overruled. While MK Itamar Ben-Gvir called on MK Yoav Galant to stop the evacuation, it appears Ben-Gvir was too late.

This while the illegal village of Khan al-Ahmar and 170 illegally built Arab structures in Area C remain standing.

Double standard? MK Danny Danon certainly thinks so and has called on the government to order the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar ASAP. As for Ben Gvir, it seems he missed the boat and he cannot afford to have this happen again.

Sources:
After outpost demolished, Ben-Gvir calls for law to be applied equally to illegal Arab structures, by JNS, January 22, 2023

Likud MKs call on government to evacuate illegal village of Khan al-Ahmar, by Josh Hasten/JNS, January 23, 2023

UPDATE: Samaria Outpost Named after Rabbi Drukman Dismantled, by David Israel/Jewish Press, January 20, 2023

Yesterday Israel’s court issued its bombshell ruling against Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas party head) that he can no longer serve as minister. This now forces Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to either remove Deri from his cabinet or act in direct contravention of the Supreme Court. Deri has publicly said that he would not comply with the ruling and not step down should the court say he cannot continue as a minister.

Netanyahu must now decide whether to remove Deri from his cabinet or act against the Supreme Court. Netanyahu may use the ruling as an example of judicial overreach, presumably to strengthen his government’s proposed overhaul of the legal system.

In response to the court’s ruling, the Shas party has threatened to bring down the government by pulling its support if Netanyahu fires Deri following the verdict.

If Netanyahu does fire Deri and Shas acts on its threat (which is very unlikely), it would be a tragedy and terrible setback for the people of Israel. This scenario could happen as long as the Supreme Court’s role remains unreformed or codified. Until Israel’s courts are fully functioning with the reforms so urgently needed, challenges and threats such as that in the Deri case will continue. Reforming the judicial system is a work in progress. This ruling gives significant proof that reform is needed. We pray it happens quickly.

Source:
COALITION CRISIS: Supreme Court rules against Deri – will Netanyahu gov’t fall?, by Lauren Marcus/World Israel News, January 18, 2023