Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish home) referred Tuesday at the Jerusalem Conference hosted by Besheva to the US administration’s denial that Israel had discussed with it a proposed legislation for the application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.
According to Shaked, Israel must act in accordance with its own interests. "Begin did not hold talks with the White House about imposing sovereignty over the Golan. He simply did it. It’s clear that all the countries of the world, as well as the United States, will not accept the application of sovereignty easily."
Shaked added that it is important to conduct the discourse on sovereignty in public. "Even if it is impossible to pass it in the coming weeks, it is important that it be on the table, and we see that if in the past it was only discussed in the Jewish Home, today we are talking about it in the Likud as well. We are [warming people to the idea of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria], and today the press also relates to the issue differently.”
Shaked noted that "This [US] administration is an open-minded one. This is a very courageous president who thinks outside the box, but ultimately the State of Israel must do what is right and good for the State of Israel."
In her opinion, the world must internalize that sovereignty is on the way. "We need to see how the various interests of the state are promoted. I repeat that the international community needs to know that we are going to apply sovereignty, even if it takes time."
When asked what would happen if the Americans objected to the process of applying sovereignty Shaked replied, "No one deludes himself into thinking they will applaud us for such a step."