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Members of the Regavim Movement erected a structure on Monday, decorated with Palestinian and European Union flags, near the Rosh Ha’Ayin home of Defense Minister Benny Gantz. The structure was built as part of the launch of Regavim’s most recent report on the status of land in Area C of Judea and Samaria. The “War of Attrition 2022” report reveals that the rate of illegal Arab construction has increased dramatically over the past year.

“In a matter of minutes, municipal patrol units and a police enforcement team arrived at the scene and demanded they evacuate the area,” commented Regavim.

It is notable that unlike the government’s immediate response to protect the home of the defense minister, no such response is forthcoming when Palestinian Authority Arabs illegally build homes and schools in IDF firing ranges and elsewhere in Area C, where Israeli jurisdiction is supposedly complete.

We love the creative ways our friends at Regavim bring issues to everyone’s attention!

Source:
Regavim Brings Illegal PA Construction to Benny Gantz’s Front Door, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, October 24, 2022

In an interview with the Arabic-language channel Hala TV, Prime Minister Yair Lapid embraced wholeheartedly the Arab terminology regarding the Temple Mount when he announced: “We are not changing the status quo at Al Aqsa.” He probably understands that when Arabs say Al Aqsa the are referring to the entire Temple Mount, not just the mosque. Regarding the Jews he said, “We permit the entry of Jews, but we don’t permit Jewish prayers on the Temple Mount. They ascend and are under supervision to make sure the status quo is not broken.” This is NOT and does NOT need to be the “status quo”. During AFSI’s last two visits, and at times previously, Jews were holding shiurim (learning sessions) and praying in an area of the Mount. THAT should be expanded.

Whether Lapid’s words are intended to draw in Arab votes or if he really believes in what he says, he is harmful to the country and its security, the safety of its people, and the legacy of the Zionist heritage. Lapid continues to appease the Arabs while he denies Jews their legal rights. Doug Altabef,a Director of B’yadenu, which advocates for Jewish rights on the Temple Mount, the Chairman of the Board of Im Tirtzu, Israel’s largest grassroots Zionist organization, and a Director of the Israel Independence Fund queries in his Arutz Sheva OpEd, “How can such a person ask us with a straight face to elevate him to be the leader of a Jewish State?”

As Israelis prepare to go to the voting booth on November 1, it is our hope that the critical issues mentioned will be at the forefront of their decision making. Ballots need to be cast that secure the future Israelis were intended to have and not the future that the forum of leftist public opinion dictates they should have. We pray Israeli citizens vote wisely and that the next Leader of the world’s only Jewish Nation State – the one that Israel truly needs – is overwhelmingly elected.

Sources:
Veering Further Left, Lapid Bans Jewish Prayer on Temple Mount, by David Israel/Jewish Press, October 19, 2022

Lapid has disqualified himself from leading a Jewish State, by Douglas Altabef/Israel National News, October 20, 2022

The Religious Zionist Party launched its “Law and Justice Restart” program to reform the legal system and “strengthen Israeli democracy” on Tuesday at a press conference at Kfar HaMaccabiah.

MK Bezalel Smotrich, Chairman of the Religious Zionist Party and member of the committee for the selection of judges, together with MK Simcha Rothman, whose NGO Meshilut has been advocating for this for years, developed the plan over the last several months.

While changes have been talked about for a long time now, to date, nothing has been done and Rothman and Smotrich hope to change that. Smotrich said, “There is no right or left here…the program is relevant to every Israeli citizen. We all need to have a system here (in Israel) that will show justice.”

This important initiative cannot be underestimated and is overdue in being implemented. Judicial overreach being kept in check is mandatory and the system itself should fairly benefit all Israeli citizens. Plus, Israel’s judicial system needs to secure the public’s trust once again. The elected officials in the Knesset should not be able to be overruled by this small group of judges. For the country to continue to advance itself, the systems that are charged with governing it should reflect a Sovereign nation operating with free and democratic principles that don’t represent personal political interest or threaten its citizens.

Source:
Religious Zionist Party announces program to reform Legal System, by Israel National News, October 18, 2022

At a press briefing Wednesday evening, Lapid said that “after months of complex negotiations which reached their peak in recent days, we have succeeded in reaching a diplomatic-economic agreement with Lebanon on a maritime boundary between our countries.” Lapid called it a “great achievement for the State of Israel, for Israel’s security and for Israel’s economy.” He also said the benefits also extend to Israel’s citizens.

The maritime agreement was presented before Israel’s Security Cabinet and the Government, both of whom approved by a large majority the continuation of this process.

Mossad head David Barnea said yesterday at the meeting of the political-security cabinet that whoever claims that the new maritime border agreement is an achievement for Hezbollah does not understand the situation in Lebanon. According to him, this agreement is not good for Hezbollah, because it constitutes a de facto recognition of Israel by Lebanon, something that Hezbollah opposes. Barnea added that Hezbollah began to deal with the issue of the maritime border agreement in a serious way only last May, when the organization recognized that public opinion in Lebanon supports the agreement.

Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week criticized Lapid for a “historic surrender” and condemned his decision to approve the deal via cabinet vote only ahead of the upcoming November election.

This seems to be a political win – or shall we say it may mean votes – for Lapid but at what long-term cost to Israel? We are concerned that Hezbollah doth protest too much and that they will reap large economic benefits from this deal. From the mounting terror on the streets of Jerusalem to the hills of Judea and Samaria this deal appears to be adding fuel to the fire, something the Israelis certainly do not need more of.

Sources:
Lapid: Deal a great achievement for Israel, economy, and security, by Israel National News, October 12, 2022

Israel’s security cabinet approves maritime deal with Lebanon, by i24News, October 12, 2022

Mossad head: Maritime deal constitutes de facto recognition of Israel, by Israel National News, October 12, 2022

Arab terrorists have carried out terror attacks on an hourly basis, according to the data of the Judea and Samaria emergency center, which registered 23 terrorist incidents in the past day.

These attacks included shootings, one of which killed Staff Sgt. Ido Baruch (pictured here) near Shavei Shomron, explosives, a lynching attempt at Nebi Salah, rock attacks, and arson.

The IDF and Israel’s security forces have arrested over 1,700 terror suspects and have prevented hundreds of terror attacks in the five months since the commencement of Operation Wave Breaker.

However, Israeli analyst Yoni Ben Menachem, of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, said that the arrest operation’s goal is not being realized. “The Palestinian Authority cannot be trusted to fight terrorism. There is no escaping the conquering of northern Samaria with large forces for a limited period of time and cleansing it of the nests of terrorism.” He further points out that Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz “are taking their time because of political considerations.”

The November 1st elections cannot come soon enough. The Israeli people must choose between the Jewish Nation State conducting its business as a sovereign nation with full recognition of its legal rights to its land and the security and safety of its people as a priority. The alternative is to give it all away recklessly and risk suffering the consequences which appears to be what this coalition has been doing for the past year. We pray the citizens of Israel choose wisely.

Source:
Israelis in Judea and Samaria facing terror attacks on hourly basis, by Aryeh Savir/TPS, October 12, 2022

The day after Yom Kippur, Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister,Yair Lapid planned to sign an agreement that would make Israeli citizens all areas reclaimed by Israel in 1967 second-class citizens, at least in terms of their right to consume culture. The agreement that was supposed to be signed with the European Union would have officially and institutionally discriminated against everyone who lives in areas beyond the Green Line, including the Golan Heights, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the Jerusalem neighborhoods built after the 1967 Six-Day War.

In his article, Eugene Kontorovich makes a very strong case that this will set Israel back diplomatically and harm Israel’s supporters fighting BDS. It will harm Israel’s claims against its detractors and cause prohibited discrimination against about 800,000 Israeli citizens. and all this for a very small profit.

Source:
Israel should not sign a cultural agreement with Europe, by  Prof. Eugene Kontorovich/Israel Hayom, October 12, 2022

Hundreds of residents of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley protested outside the home of Defense Minister Benny Gantz in Rosh Ha’ayin on Thursday afternoon. They demanded that the government authorize an Operation Protective Edge II in order to stop the current wave of Palestinian terrorism in its tracks.

Binyamin Regional Council head Yisrael Gantz addressed the crowd saying, “We don’t have equal rights as citizens and now the enemy is rearing its head because the government lets it do so. The Prime Minister talks about two states, about a Palestinian state. The Defense Minister himself has revived the Palestinian Authority of unblessed memory. This is a terrorist and dictatorial organization that harms Arabs and shoots at Jews.”

As the residents of Judea and Samaria prepare for the coming Sukkot holiday, it sometimes seems as if they are still temporary dwellers in their own land. It’s high time that the government exercises its sovereign right to the land and authorizes a true sense of permanence by unfreezing housing development in this region.

Source:
Residents of Judea & Samaria protest outside Defense Minister’s home, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, October 6, 2022

Today, Israel rejected revisions requested by Lebanon to a U.S.- mediated border demarcation proposal, throwing into doubt years of diplomatic efforts to enable both enemy countries to extract gas in or around a disputed Mediterranean prospect.

After being briefed on substantive changes that Lebanon was seeking to make to the agreement, Prime Minister Yair Lapid instructed his negotiating team to reject them. Lapid made it clear that Israel would not compromise on its economic and security interests, even if it meant no deal would be reached anytime soon.

Lapid is putting on quite a show of strength as he remains firm that Israel’s security interests will not be compromised. Still, we question whether it was all planned from the start – to get votes in the November 1 election. First Lapid declares on the world stage at the UN General Assembly that he supports a two-state solution and then tries to appear bold as he rejects any changes in this maritime deal saying Israel will not compromise on its economic or security interests. How can he be unaware of the threat to Israel’s economic and security interests that would be brought about by a two-state DISSOLUTION!

Source:
Lapid rejects Lebanese revision requests in maritime border deal, by Ynet, Reuters, October 6, 2022

The High Court of Justice handed down a decision Monday evening granting the state an additional three months to explain why the illegal outpost in the Adumim region has not been dismantled despite six “final” High Court decisions. The deadline is pushed off until February 1, 2023, three months after Israel’s upcoming national elections. This points once again to the crying need for reform in the High Court.

“Time and time again, the High Court has declared the outpost at Khan al Ahmar illegal and called for the relocation of the squatters – but Khan al Ahmar remains,” said Regavim Attorney Yael Cinnamon.

Meir Deutsch, Director General of Regavim stated, “Meanwhile, Khan al Ahmar continues to grow, dozens more Palestinian Authority outposts are swallowing up the open spaces of Area C by replicating this proven method of occupation, and the High Court, despite its ‘displeasure’, is allowing the government to continue to sit idly by.“

Source:
High Court Gives Government 3 Month Extension for Response on Khan al Ahmar, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, October 3, 2022

Israel’s decision to all but endorse a US plan to redraw the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel has drawn heavy criticism from Israel’s Right, as well as from its US allies. The deal would have Israel concede some of the economic waters it currently controls, in exchange for royalties stemming from potential gas discoveries north of the border.

Former US Ambassador David Friedman lamented Monday that this was a squandered opportunity that wasted years of hard work while he was in the Trump administration. “No one then imagined 100% to Lebanon and 0% to Israel. Would love to understand how we got here.” Republican Senator Ted Cruz voiced his concern over the plan, alleging that the White House had Israel capitulate to Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah is a formal partner in the Lebanese government and considered a terrorist organization by the US, Israel and other Western countries. Eugene Kontorovich said signing this agreement during a lame duck government would violate Israeli constitutional rules. “After being proposed and rejected a decade ago, the deal is being rammed through, just weeks before the Israeli elections – in violation of Israeli constitutional rules – because the Biden Administration and Hezbollah understand the desperation and weakness of the Lapid-Bennett government.”

Can we rest assured that since this deal violates Israel’s constitutional rules that it is destined to fall apart? Was getting to this point simply a vote garnering tactic for Yair Lapid? We can only hope that good sense prevails and that this one-sided, terrorist favoring agreement collapses never to be revived.

Sources:
Former Trump official says gas deal gives ‘100% to Lebanon and 0% to Israel’, by Ariel Kahana/Israel Hayom, October 3, 2022

‘Maritime deal gives 100% to Lebanon, 0% to Israel’, by David Rosenberg/Israel National News, October 3, 2022