On Sunday, the Security Cabinet approved a package of goodwill gestures for the Palestinian Authority including the opening of large swaths of Area C to Arab construction, despite objections by two senior Jewish Home ministers.
During the five-hour cabinet meeting, Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked clashed with the Prime Minister over the proposed gestures.
A senior official told Arutz Sheva that while the Prime Minister had described the moves as a show of good faith to the new President ahead of his visit to Israel, Bennett told the Security Cabinet the proposals constituted concessions to the Palestinian Authority – “a free gift”.
Bennett did endorse some of the measures proposed to stimulate the PA economy, including extending the hours the Allenby crossing on the border with Jordan will be open to civilian travel.
But the Education Minister slammed plans to open up more of Area C – under full Israeli security and civil administration – to Arab construction.
Bennett also expressed opposition to the retroactive legalization of illegal Arab structures built in Area C. The minister said Israel’s “gestures” were part of asymmetrical relationship with the PA, whereby the Jewish state makes concessions with no reciprocal steps by the PA.
The Jewish Home chief also criticized expanding Arab construction in Area C on the grounds that the area had been drawn intentionally to encompass Israeli towns while leaving nearly all Arab communities in Areas A and B, noting that Israel does not build in A or B, and the PA should not be permitted to expand construction into C.