Smotrich: Prepare ‘operational plans’ for sovereignty in Judea and Samaria

Israel’s Security Cabinet recently approved 22 new Jewish communities across Judea and Samaria, including two in northern Samaria that were uprooted by Israeli forces as part of the 2005 Gaza disengagement.

By JNS

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also has authority over civilian matters in Judea and Samaria, has directed his office to prepare practical plans for Israeli sovereignty over the area.

Smotrich told the Defense Ministry’s Settlement Administration to “formulate an operational plan for applying sovereignty, and we will not stop until the entire area receives its full legal status and becomes an inseparable part of the State of Israel,” he said on Thursday.

“We are changing the face of the settlement enterprise not just as a slogan, but through real action,” he said.

Smotrich spoke alongside Israel Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and the Yesha Council, during a tour of Jewish communities that recently received approval from the government.

“These are historic days,” Ganz declared. “These steps, led by Minister Bezalel Smotrich alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz, the Settlement Administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who supports and boosts it, are unprecedented.”

“The latest of the steps—the establishment of 22 new communities—marks a dramatic revolution not seen since 1967,” Ganz said.

“Next week, a summit led by European countries will convene in an attempt to recognize a Palestinian state. The response must be clear: to make a bold political decision and apply Israeli law to Judea and Samaria.”

Israel’s Security Cabinet recently approved 22 new Jewish communities across Judea and Samaria, including two in northern Samaria that were uprooted by Israeli forces as part of the 2005 Gaza disengagement.

Some of the approved communities are existing outposts that had thus far been unauthorized under Israeli law, while others are new villages.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government has recently warned some European nations that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state on their part could prompt Jerusalem to extend sovereignty to Judea and Samaria.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer told France, the U.K. and others that a recognition of “Palestine” could lead Israel to annex parts of Judea and Samaria and legalize outposts.

“Unilateral moves against Israel will be met with unilateral moves by Israel,” Sa’ar told his counterparts.