Netanyahu’s rivals secretly promised EU to weaken Israeli control in Judea, Samaria – report

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot reportedly told European leaders they would reverse steps taken by the Netanyahu government strengthening Israeli control over Judea and Samaria.

By World Israel News Staff

Associates of former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot have told European officials that a future Israeli government would reverse major steps taken in Judea and Samaria by the current coalition, according to a report which both opposition leaders’ parties denied.

Channel 14 reported Wednesday that people close to Bennett and Eisenkot, working alongside left-wing research organizations, had recently held discussions with government officials from several European countries, including Britain and France.

According to the report, the associates sought to reassure European officials that a new government would roll back settlement policies adopted during the past three years and restore international and Israeli political legitimacy to the Palestinian Authority.

The alleged commitments included reversing the establishment of newly recognized communities and removing existing agricultural farms and outposts, Channel 14 said.

The broadcaster did not identify the associates, research organizations or European officials involved in the reported discussions. It also did not publish documents or recordings supporting the allegation. Neither the British nor French government has publicly confirmed that such commitments were presented.

Eisenkot’s Yashar! party categorically rejected the report.

“Lies and falsehood,” the party said. “No messages on this subject were conveyed between Eisenkot’s circle and any party, domestic or international. Channel 14, in a panic, publishes false reports as a method and chooses its familiar path — inventing news.”

Bennett’s Together party issued a similarly forceful denial, calling the story “a complete lie” with “no connection whatsoever to reality.”

“Former prime minister Naftali Bennett will not hand over a piece of land, will not evacuate Jewish communities built legally and will not permit the establishment of a Palestinian state — as he has done until now,” the party said.

Bennett’s response specifically rejected the suggestion that he would dismantle legally established communities. His publicly stated position, however, distinguishes between authorized settlement activity and construction erected without legal approval.

During an interview with the Kan public broadcaster in June, Bennett said he supported Jewish construction on state land in Area C but believed unauthorized structures and outposts should be removed.

“As far as I am concerned, legal construction in Area C, on state land that is not privately owned Palestinian land, is welcome,” Bennett said. “Construction that is illegal, outside Area C or on private land is not legitimate.”

“What is not legal will not exist,” he added when asked whether unauthorized outposts would be evacuated.

Bennett also said Area C should ultimately become part of Israel, while Areas A and B would remain under Palestinian autonomy. He has repeatedly declared his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Those positions differ from Channel 14’s broader claim that Bennett’s associates promised a wholesale reversal of the government’s settlement policies and the removal of farms regardless of their individual legal status.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has made the government’s expansion of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria a central component of his campaign ahead of the October 27 election. Israel’s security cabinet this week approved approximately NIS 1.3 billion for the establishment of 34 new communities, along with an additional NIS 1.075 billion for roads and related infrastructure.

Smotrich said the new approvals would bring the number of communities initiated during his four-year term to 103.

“We are strengthening the security of the State of Israel, killing the idea of establishing a terrorist state in the heart of the country and strengthening our hold on the homeland in Judea and Samaria,” he said.

The current government has also approved changes to land-registration and purchasing procedures in Area C, expanded the recognition of previously unauthorized communities and transferred additional administrative authority over the territory to Israeli civilian bodies.

European governments have increased pressure on Israel over the issue. European Union foreign ministers discussed proposals this week to restrict commerce with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria through tariffs, import-licensing requirements or a full trade ban.