At the cabinet meeting Sunday afternoon, Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, demanded the immediate legalization of seven communities in Judea and Samaria and the regulation of essential infrastructures in the other communities. Ben Gvir’s efforts come in response to the murderous attack in Jerusalem and in memory of the seven murdered by a Palestinian terrorist on Friday night.
The currently illegal communities that Minister Ben Gvir wants to be legalized are Abigail and Asael on Mount Hebron, Shacharit in Samaria, Tel Zion and Givat Harel in Binyamin, Avnet in the Dead Sea, and Kedem Arba in the Jordan Valley. In addition to Ben Gvir’s push to expand settlement within Judea and Samaria, other governmental response measures and tactics to move forward with the settlement plans are being considered. The government is asking the Negev and Galilee Development Ministry to bring within seven days a proposed resolution to regulate seven localities in the 'young settlement' and to regulate the essential infrastructure components in the entire young settlement."
Ben Gvir demands: against seven murdered people - training seven settlements in Judea and Samaria The Minister of National Security will demand the immediate qualification of seven settlements from the young settlement in Judea and…https://t.co/lmiK3r4AF3 https://t.co/EUEJUJfncO
— Esther AttarMachanek (@essie224) January 29, 2023
Ben Gvir further noted: "We will act hard and aggressively against the terrorists and against terrorism, and a basket of deterrence measures must be taken - both measures on the ground and political measures. The training and legalization of the localities will join the sealing of the terrorist's house and the police activity this morning to demolish houses in East Jerusalem, and a series of other measures to deter terrorism."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at the beginning of the cabinet meeting that they are expected to soon decide on steps to strengthen communities in Judea and Samaria "in order to convey a message to the terrorists, we are here to stay." I instructed the head of the MLA to review additional measures that have come up to the cabinet and they will be presented to the public later. We are not looking for escalation, but we are prepared for any possibility. Our answer to terrorism is a heavy, powerful, and precise hand."
The new-far right "Israeli" minister Itamar Ben Gvir will demand in the cabinet meeting to legalize 7 settlement outposts in the West Bank, and to improve other settlements. pic.twitter.com/MIdXAw6oO6
— Chris Hutchinson (@ChrisHu34451470) January 30, 2023
It should be noted that the legal status of new settlements is also crucial for creating a continuous line of Israeli settlements and therefore preventing the continued illegal Palestinian construction expanding into Area C, which goes against the clauses signed by both Israeli and Palestinian officials in the Oslo Accords.
