The Ministry of the Interior announced today (Thursday) the granting of recognition to five additional communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley: Havat Gilad, Eival, Ma’oz Tzvi in Samaria, and Tamar and Neve Gedid – Gadi Camp in the Jordan Valley.
Receiving the settlement symbol is much more than a symbolic declaration. It is the “final stamp” of the state, enabling the settlements to receive: direct budgeting – recognition by all government ministries and the allocation of organized budgets; infrastructure – direct connection to the “Mekorot” water system and regulated electricity; security – receiving a standard for ongoing security coordinator (Ravshatz) and eligibility for residents to carry personal weapons; civil services – receiving services from Israel Post and official educational institutions.
Minister Bezalel Smotrich added a strong political statement: “The settlement in Judea and Samaria continues to grow and flourish with full force. We are killing the idea of a Palestinian state and preventing the establishment of a terror state that would endanger Israel. I thank the Ministry of the Interior, the Central Command Chief, the Civil Administration, and the Settlement Administration for leading these efforts.”
The AFSI Chizuk Mission has visited Chavat Gilad many times. We congratulate our friends there and on the other four Yishuvim. We look forward to connecting with friends in Chavat Gilad once more during our upcoming Mission this May.