Minister of Construction and Housing Yoav Galant (Kulanu) sent a letter to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit asking him to retract his decision to freeze the government's decision not to harm grants to communities in Judea and Samaria.
Galant wrote at the opening of his letter that at a cabinet meeting two and a half weeks ago his proposal for a "national priority map for the subject of construction and housing" was approved.
"During the discussion, I proposed that the government bring the special security situation prevailing in Judea and Samaria as a central consideration that uniquely affects the need not to harm the government subsidy granted in this area."
According to the government's decision, "Granting benefits according to this decision to communities in Judea and Samaria will be subject to the decision of the political echelon. As a result, due to the ongoing security situation and until a further decision on the matter, where there is damage to the level of benefits customary in the area, they will remain intact."
According to Galant, even though the proposal was approved by the government, Mandelblit "saw fit not to allow the government's legal decision to be implemented while questioning the central argument I made during the meeting regarding the special security situation in Judea and Samaria.”
"Unfortunately, we all learned last night of the serious attack in Ofra, in which seven Israelis were injured, including a pregnant mother, and we hope that they will fully recover in the future. In the current state of affairs, there is no need for additional proofs; If we want to continue the vital settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria we must immediately allow the continued granting of government aid to settlements to create an appropriate incentive for the settlers in the face of the terror threats that confront us in this area.
"In light of the above, and since the implementation processes have been delayed since 11/11/18, I request that you remove your objection to the implementation of the government's decision and instruct your subordinates to allow continued construction in Judea and Samaria under the conditions set forth by the government of Israel."