Category: Articles

There will be no Sovereignty applied in Judea and Samaria in 2021 or, it stands to reason, in 2022. And probably not in 2023 either. The champagne popping over the historic Sovereignty initiative was replaced with champagne popping over the historic peace deals with the UAE and Bahrain. The bombastic newspaper headlines about Sovereignty were replaced with headlines proclaiming a new Middle East, and the sour faces in the news studios curled their noses at peace instead of Sovereignty. The application of Israeli law in wide swathes of Judea and Samaria was suspended indefinitely, and maybe for the best. The test of Sovereignty is not over, it is only just beginning, and the challenges of Sovereignty only intensify amid this almost-initiative.

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The imperative of practical sovereignty, by Sara Haetzni-Cohen. Israel Hayom, September 17, 2020

Yesterday’s Abraham Accords and Bahrain-Israel peace agreement signings were historic and has the potential to redefine life in the Middle East.

However, old ways of Arab thinking were still on display at The White House ceremony on Tuesday. As both agreements were being signed, rockets from the Gaza Strip were fired into Israel’s south. Thirteen Israelis have been injured with one in serious condition. Still, that is thirteen more injuries and much more psychological damage than is acceptable.

One Arab representative in the ceremony spoke of “Palestinian territories” – a term that reflects decades Arab hatred of Israel and attempts to delegitimize it.

With the full text of the Abraham Accords released, we now know that neither agreement mentions anything related to Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria or putting a two-state solution back on the table for discussion. Even though Sovereignty is temporarily (and we hope very briefly) on hold, it is still appears to be a win for Israel.

AFSI took note of this section of the Abraham Accords:
2. General Principles: The Parties shall be guided in their relations by the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law governing relations among States. In particular, they shall recognize and respect each other’s sovereignty and right to live in peace and security, develop friendly relations of cooperation between them and their peoples, and settle all disputes between them by peaceful means.

What the definition of Sovereignty is in the context of this agreement remains to be seen. AFSI’s definition of Sovereignty remains steadfast – SOVEREIGNTY NOW OVER ALL OF JUDEA AND SAMARIA and a UNITED JERUSALEM. Applying Sovereignty is Israel’s historical and legal right. Together with you – our advocacy for Sovereignty must not and will not end.

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Two states, settlements not part of Israel deals with UAE, Bahrain, by Lahav Harkov. Jerusalem Post, September 16, 2020

13 injured as rockets fired at southern Israel, by Tzv Joffre. Jerusalem Post, September 16, 2020

Abraham Accords Peace Agreement: Treaty of Peace, Diplomatic Relations and Full Normalization Between the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel, Official Whit House Document. September 15, 2020

Excerpt from remarks delivered by President Trump, September 11, 2020:

Just a few moments ago, I hosted a historic call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and King Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain. Both leaders expressed their condolences as well to the American people on this very, very tragic, horrible event that took place on September 11th. And they very much meant it. I want to thank them for that.

There’s no more powerful response to the hatred that spawned 9/11 than the agreement that we’re about to tell you. You will hear something today that’s, I think, very, very important for not only the Middle East but for the world.

In the spirit of peace and cooperation, both leaders also agreed that Bahrain will fully normalize its diplomatic relations with Israel. They will exchange embassies and ambassadors, begin direct flights between their countries, and launch cooperation initiatives across a broad range of sectors, including health, business, technology, education, security, and agriculture. This is a truly historic day.

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Remarks by President Trump on the Announcement of Normalization of Relations Between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain – The White House Official Statement. September 11, 2020

As a new normal takes shape in the Middle East, let’s not forget the current not-normal status of the Jewish people still denied its legal and historical right to worship freely and peacefully on the Temple Mount.

The two Trump brokered peace deals in the last month have created a new buzzword – normalization. Things are now normalizing that had been abnormal for far too long.

One of the most abnormal and aberrant things about the Middle East conflict is the rejection of a Jew’s right to pray on the Temple Mount. This must change if an accord between Abraham’s children is truly meant to be meaningful.

It is time to return Jewish prayer to the Temple Mount. It is time to normalize the Temple Mount.

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Is it time to ‘normalize’ the Temple Mount?, by Nave Dromi. Jerusalem Post, September 13, 2020

Amiram Ben Uliel, who was convicted of the murder of three members of the Dawabsheh family in Duma, was sentenced to three life sentences in Israel on Monday.

The sentence was handed down today after the Central District Court in Lod recently decided to reject the appeal filed by the defense attorneys to throw out his conviction following new evidence in the case.

The request for the overturning of Ben Uliel’s conviction came after Ahmad Dwabsha, the only witness from the house to the incident, who in media interviews described the incident differently from the details of the indictment under which Ben-Uliel was convicted

Obviously there has to be an appeal and we are glad to hear Ben Uliel’s family and friends are preparing to appeal the conviction to the Supreme Court. We wish them strength as they move forward plus a swift turn around in this extremely questionable conviction.

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3 life sentences for accused Duma killer, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, September 14, 2020

For five years, the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy has been trying to combat the large number of international delegitimization and boycott campaigns against the Jewish State. Its options to combat international antisemitism are limited, and it is doubtful whether it has properly prioritized the issues at stake. Israel urgently needs a separate anti-propaganda agency, something the Strategic Affairs Ministry should have recommended long ago.

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Israel Needs an Anti-Propaganda Agency by Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld. BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,738, September 9, 2020

We are more than ever concerned these days, in light of the political process, the deceptive reports and announcements in the media. We hereby issue cautions and warnings.

We see a number of red blinking warning lights that the “peace” with the Emirates and other Arab countries is not really “peace in exchange for peace”, as it is presented by the Prime Minister and his people, but is an integral part of the Deal of the Century, part of the process of formulating a Palestinian state.

Now is the time to turn our attention to the bright, blinking red warning signals showing us the tragic direction that the current political steps are leading to.

In the preface to the Deal of the Century, the following quote appears: “We believe that if more Muslim and Arab countries normalize relations with Israel, it will help advance a just and fair resolution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians”. It seems that the agreement with the Emirates and other Gulf states is leading us directly in this dangerous direction.

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Wake up! Wake up! A Palestinian state is on the way!, by Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar. Arutz Sheva – September 10, 2020

Yesha Council Chairman David Elhayani called for the replacement of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with a new leader whose actions would be more in line with the official positions of the Likud party.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva, Elhayani referred to the criticism leveled at him from the right, which blamed his strident opposition to the Trump Administration’s peace plan for causing the historic opportunity to apply Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria to be missed. “I am proud and we are proud that we prevented this bad plan,” he said, noting that he believes the American plan was intended only to bring about the establishment of a Palestinian state and would eventually lead to the evacuation of tens of thousands of settlers.

Netanyahu, he said, must promote Israeli interests, including the application of Israeli Sovereignty over Area C, without any connection to the American plan.

AFSI does not endorse Elhayani’s call to replace Prime Minister Netanyahu. That’s a matter for the people of Israel to decide. However, Elhayani’s statement is a direct result of his justifiable frustration with one too many missed opportunities to apply Sovereignty.

With that said, we share Elhayani’s frustration and continue to call for SOVEREIGNTY NOW OVER ALL ISRAEL.

#SovereigntyNow #SovereigntyOverAreaC

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‘Netanyahu has abandoned the Likud’s positions; he must go’, by Shimon Cohen. Arutz Sheva – September 10, 2020

Samaria Regional Council chairman Yossi Dagan responded Thursday to criticism of a news piece on the tourism industry in Samaria, comparing it to the BDS movement.

“We are happy to continue to cause high blood pressure, especially for the far-left whiners,” Dagan told Arutz Sheva. “These delusional ‘TV reviews’ are hallucinatory BDS-style political theater.”

According to him, the television criticism “represents a handful of troublemakers from the extreme left, ridiculous and hateful people who represent the minority even of the extreme left in Israel.”

“Judea and Samaria deserves fair coverage just like any other place in the country,” he added. “In practice, despite the sourness sown by a handful of people, the people of Israel point with their feet and travel in Judea and Samaria. This happens because of the amazing landscapes, the tranquility, the springs, the historical roots and the diverse attractions.”

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‘We’re happy to make extreme leftists cry’, by Yeonatan Gottlieb. Arutz Sheva – September 10, 2020

Earlier this year, you participated in the election for US delegates to the 38th World Zionist Congress (WZC), the international “parliament of the Jewish people”. The American Zionist Movement (AZM) administered the voting and is pleased to share with you the ballot results and plans for the Zionist Congress.

You came through and helped right-wing coalitions (combined) come in ahead of the left-wing. We’re pleased to let you know that you have strong representation now – Your official Delegate to both the World Zionist Congress and World Likud Congress is AFSI’s Co-Executive Director Judy Freedman Kadish.

Read more HERE.