The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria (Yesha) has issued a rare “thank you” message to Peace Now for a report of extensive new housing for Jews in the region.
Yesha said that the figures claimed in the report are far from reality but accepted them as a good sign for the new Rosh HaShanah year, which begins in three weeks.
Peace Now, which opposes any Jewish presence in United Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, stated that the rate of residential building in Judea and Samaria is double that of the rest of Israel since the government building freeze in Yesha ended last October.
“We thank Peace Now for the wonderful news, but, to our sorrow, the facts are from reality,” Yesha responded. “However, we will be happy to accept the report as a vision for the New Year."
Peace Now leader Yariv Oppenheimer complained that a housing shortage exists in the rest of Israel while building continues in Judea and Samaria. He is concerned that a continuing building boom will make it less likely that any Israeli government can surrender Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Authority.
Yesha also said, “Peace Now has the most frustrating role in the world – testifying to building [in Judea and Samaria] and trying to demolish homes there,” referring to the left-wing’ group’s successful petition to the High Court that dozens of homes in the community of Migron, in Samaria, be destroyed.
“Between our building homes, we find time to feel sorry for Peace Now,” Yesha said.