The decision by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and the IDF Civil Administration to classify 4,000 dunam (1,000 acres) of land near the regional council center as “state land” will significantly pave the way for a large community in that area. Regional Council head David Pearl explained the designation by the minister will permit building another community the size of Betar Illit or Efrat. He feels this will permit building thousands of housing units for tens of thousands of people in the next two years. Today there are 22,000 residents in the Gush Etzion Regional Council. That number does not include Betar or Efrat, both local regional councils and not officially part of the Gush Etzion Regional Council.
Pearl praised the move, adding “such a declaration has not been made [by the government in Gush Etzion] for the past 20 years.” The decision was reached following the kidnapping and murder of the three kedoshim, Naftali Frenkel, Eyal Frenkel and Gilad Shaar HY”D.
The thousands of dunam are in the area near the hill where the members of the Lamed Hey HY”D were murdered in 1948. A few families live in that area today and there is a school called Givot. Now the area will be developed into a large city or yishuv.
PA (Palestinian Authority) officials responded with a statement that this shows once again Israel is seeking to eradicate their legitimate claim to their land as well as showing Israel is not serious about the two-state solution.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
11 Responses
This decision is a disaster. Massive budget cuts to everything else yet the government votes to build housing in a region that isn’t part of Medinat Yisrael and will bring about justifiable condemnation from the entire world?
Nothing more than talk as this plan has already been cancelled under US and UN pressure.
Whenever isreal is about to shift left on what’s really important,they cover it with bellicose settlement building
Building settlements causes hatred and animosity. It puts Jewish lives at risk. It causes resentment from world powers and makes Israel’s diplomatic arguments weaker. Shame on Netanyahu for trying to score points with the political right because of the pressure for his surrendering on Gaza. Israel’s situation is precarious enough it doesn’t need to create new problems.
The land is Jewish & State owned. Go for it!!! Sell reasonable housing & build a beautiful kehilla for all interested.
Apparently there are some non-Jews who have been living on or at least using that land who will be quite annoyed, and will assert their claims. Even if under Ottoman Law it could be considered “state land”, that didn’t mean those occupyuing it were without rights (similar to how owning a rent controlled apartment in New York gives you certain rights, but the tenants also have rights).
Given the growing threat from Islamic State, its unwise of the zionists to work on alienate those Arabs who are wavering in whether to ally with Islamic State. The last thing Israel wants it to build up an enemy that would be a far bigger threat than the PLO or Hamas.
CRAZY & CharlieHall-The existence of Jews anywhere in Israel (tel Aviv, jerusalem proper or Netanya – built & paid for by Natan Strauss) is a cause for animosity by Arabs & anti-Semitic countries.
Stop fooling yourself & listen to Fatah & Hamas leaders talk the talk. Settlements are Jews living in their homeland and as long as ONE YID is in the Middle East – the BATTLE WILL RAGE ONWARD!!!
Jews that are immigrating and families already there need homes to live. Are there other places to build these needed communities in what is considered to be Israel proper?
#7 Perhaps, but so what?
It’s forbidden to revolt/rebel against the world
Which arguably was nullified regarding lands agreed to by the leading nations only(Resolution #242 and the Rogers Plan)
Scotland YES
Zion Flag. Your statement is untrue. World powers recognize Israels right to exist. They do not recognize Israels right to sabotage a two state solution by building settlements on disputed land. Settlement building creates tensions with the rest of the world for no good reason.