Netanyahu wants the leadership role on Judea and Samaria

Netanyahu asked his Likud party and other members of his coalition to allow him to lead efforts in enhancing and developing the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. 

In a meeting with his Likud party on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed his desire to lead an agenda shared by many coalition members to build additional Jewish homes in Judea and Samaria.

“Now is not the time for knee-jerk reactions, not the time for dictates, and also not the time for surprises,” Netanyahu said, implicitly referring to plans put forth by Education Minister Naftali Bennett with his Jewish Home party and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz, immediately after President Trump’s inauguration, that would officially incorporate parts of Judea and Samaria within Israel.

Instead, the prime minister suggested that the inauguration of Donald Trump as President presents Israel with the opportunity to turn a new page in “responsible” bilateral cooperation with the United States.

“It is the time for responsible, wise diplomacy with friends, diplomacy that will strengthen the coordination and trust between Israel and the new administration in Washington,” Netanyahu continued. “Therefore, for the benefit of the State of Israel and the settlements, I suggest putting aside any other considerations and letting me lead.”

Although Bennett had committed to introducing legislation by the end of January that would incorporate the Jewish community of Ma’ale Adumim with the rest of Israel, the security cabinet agreed on Sunday to postpone discussion over the issue, reportedly until after Netanyahu coordinates with President Trump on the matter in an upcoming meeting next month in Washington, DC.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News