Thousands protest against the expulsion of Jews from their homes in Ofra, and the destruction of those homes.Will we be seeing a repeat of the tragedy of Amona? Yes, if the Supreme Court gets its way. We say, NO WAY!!
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will be visiting the United States to meet with President Trump in a little over a week. It is likely that their discussions will focus on Iran, but Netanyahu has said that he will also bring up the subject of “settlements”.
Throughout his years as Prime Minister, Netanyahu’s position on “settlements” has been ambiguous. He came out in support for a “Palestinian” state during his Bar Ilan speech in 2009, necessitating the destruction of some Jewish communities, yet has at times refuted it. He has also given strong vocal support to the settlement enterprise, yet has not moved forward in any substantial way to enable Jewish growth in Judea and Samaria. Growth in the Jewish heartland under Netanyahu’s leadership has been stagnant, with communities bursting at the seams for lack of available housing.
Throughout his career as a politician, Netanyahu has been a master of his trade, surviving against the odds by playing both sides of an issue, and by playing different sides against each other. He is being accused of the same today regarding the Regulations Bill, just passed by the Knesset, 60-52.
This bill is supposed to end once and for all, the destruction of existing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and thus enable their growth in Israel’s historic heartland. Over the past few months while the bill was being formulated and debated, Netanyahu, true to form, was ambiguous in his support; sometimes in favor, sometimes leaning against it, several times requesting a delay in the vote. He has been accused of publicly supporting the bill, with the assumption that the Israeli courts would declare it illegal and strike it down anyway. Thus, he could shore up his right wing support by claiming to be in favor of the bill, and at the same time, not worry about its ramifications, due to court decisions.
However, the bill’s passing is viewed by many as a stepping stone or catalyst toward Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. Thus, regardless of what the Israeli courts rule, there may be a growing groundswell of support, and a momentum of its own, toward sovereignty. This may be a position that PM Netanyahu may or may not support, but one that he may not be able to control. If so, he will have to take a position on Israel’s future very soon: either continue the charade of publicly supporting a “two-state solution”, or admit that there will not be an Arab state in Israel’s heartland and that Israel will be the one and only sovereign throughout the Land of Israel.
When the Prime Minister meets the President, the following questions will be on people’s minds: What is Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vision for Israel? What is President Trump’s position, and ultimately, does it matter?
Decision time is coming soon.
“We will not be confused again.”
– Israel Hayom: The right of annexation
“We say today that the people of Israel were not, are not and will not be occupiers in their own land, because a nation cannot occupy its own land.”
– Arutz Sheva: ‘This is a new day for Judea and Samaria’
“We didn’t take someone else’s land; we retook ownership of our forefathers’ land.”
– Israel Hayom: A historic day