Defense Minister Yoav Galant's visit to the Gush Etzion regional council near the Judean desert was marked by critical discussions and observations regarding the Palestinian Authority's construction activities in the area. The Defense Minister, accompanied by the head of the Gush Etzion Council and Yesha Council Chairman Shlomo Ne'eman, embarked on a working visit aimed at assessing the situation on the ground.
During the tour, Shlomo Ne'eman, the head of the council, provided an in-depth review of the ongoing construction by the Palestinian Authority in the region. In his words, "This construction is taking place without the necessary permits and in violation of state land, constituting an illegal encroachment." Ne'eman underscored the damage being done to the Judean Desert and the security risks posed by the establishment of a city that effectively creates an enclave for settlements in the Eastern bloc.
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In response to these concerns, Minister Galant was urged by the head of the council to take immediate action to halt the construction activities and uphold the Oslo agreement. Ne'eman stated, "We call on the Defense Minister to maintain the Oslo agreement that does not allow construction in the areas mentioned."
The tour also included a meeting held in the office of the head of the council, located within a nature reserve where Palestinian construction is not permitted. During this meeting, Minister Galant expressed his deep reservations about the ongoing construction efforts. He highlighted that these operations are aimed at expanding the Gush Etzion bloc and Jewish settlements on Mount Hebron to the east. Galant asserted, "The operation is contrary to all the agreements made in the past." He also commended the vigilance of Shlomo Ne'eman and the council members on this critical issue.
Shlomo Ne'eman further appealed to Minister Galant, asserting that the Palestinian Authority's actions are in clear violation of agreements. He emphatically stated, "We call on the Israeli government to intervene and stop the construction of the new Palestinian city that endangers the Gush Etzion bloc and the State of Israel." He also added, "We thank Defense Minister Yoav Galant for coming to see with his own eyes the disaster that is occurring in the Judean Desert and we are alerting him."
Yesterday, we joined the Knesset Land of Israel Caucus, co-chaired by MKs @rothmar, @limor_sonhrmelh, & @YuliEdelstein for a field tour in Gush Etzion & Hebron. Also in attendance were MKs @HaleviAmit, @MKOhadTal, @ArielKallner & @ettyatia. pic.twitter.com/LoLFNqc8Uc
ā Regavim (@RegavimEng) September 22, 2023
Later in the day, Galant conducted a visit and tour of the Beit El local council alongside the head of the council, Shai Alon. The highlight of this visit was an inspection of the new neighborhood, "Ramat Beit El," which encompasses approximately 300 housing units. From one of the upper apartments in the project, they had a panoramic view of the surrounding area. The head of the council presented a range of needs for the settlement, with a primary focus on arranging an escape route from Beit El to Route 60, which leads to Jerusalem. Additionally, there was discussion about the necessity to relocate the 'Hatmar Binyamin' IDF base to make way for the construction of an additional 350 housing units in the area.
