Religious Zionist Party chief MK Bezalel Smotrich is calling on the Israeli government to rebuild one of the four Israeli towns evacuated in northern Samaria 16 years ago. He declared that the reestablishment of the town will be one of the party’s conditions for joining a new right-wing government.
Speaking at a special Independence Day event at Sa-Nur in northern Samaria last Thursday, Smotrich vowed to condition his support for a new Likud-led government on its agreement to rebuild Sa-Nur.“In this government’s coalition agreements there will be a clause requiring the Government of Israel to approve building permits and renewed funding for the establishment of the town of Sa-Nur. That will be the first act to rectify the crimes [done to northern Samaria] and to develop and build our beloved Land of Israel,” Smotrich said.
Smotrich’s newest condition certainly presents Netanyahu with a political challenge. This condition, of course, is in addition to his party’s refusal to sit in a government with the Islamist Ra’am party. He appears to be putting Netanyahu between the proverbial rock and hard place.
We hope that building up the Land throughout Judea and Samaria will be a part of the next government’s agenda and certainly that re-building what was senselessly destroyed will be given top priority in any new government formed.
Why Smotrich could finish off Netanyahu – analysis, by Gil Hoffman. Jerusalem Post, April 18, 2021