An Arab protester on a horse in the Arab village of Umm-el-Fahm in northern Israel waves a Palestinian flag. (AP/Muhammed Muheisen)
“The ball is in Jerusalem’s court,” says Samaria regional council head, speaking about Netanyahu’s refusal to state timeline for Judea and Samaria sovereignty.
By World Israel News Staff
An influential settler leader has voiced concern that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may agree to the creation of an independent Palestinian state as part of a peace plan promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan told Hebrew-language outlet Ynet that he and other settler leaders held a meeting on the issue with Netanyahu in New York. While the discussion was “in-depth”, Dagan said, they left the meeting “feeling troubled.”
Netanyahu has long pledged to apply sovereignty to Judea and Samaria. However, Trump recently told the media that he would not allow such a move.
According to Dagan, Netanyahu refused to state a deadline for declaring official annexation of the territories. Dagan warned that the prime minister may succumb to international pressure on the sovereignty issue.
“This government could end up agreeing to the establishment of a Palestinian state. That is [French President Emmanuel] Macron’s goal, along with others who are pressuring against sovereignty,” Dagan said.
“A Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria would be another October 7. Neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority hide their support for the massacre,” he added.
Dagan stressed that he and other settler leaders expect Netanyahu to stand firmly against international pressure and apply sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, calling the opportunity to annex the region a “critical moment” in Israeli history.
The settler leader also rejected the argument that Netanyahu cannot move forward without Trump’s approval.
“The person who will decide whether sovereignty happens is Netanyahu, not the U.S.,” Dagan said.
“Trump is a great friend of Israel — a miracle for Israel — but even among friends, there can be disagreements. The ball is in Jerusalem’s court.”
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