Top settlement leaders welcome the appointment of MK Zev Elkin as head of the Subcommittee on Judea and Samaria. The appointment was ratified on Wednesday by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Elkin, a religious Likud member who lives in Jerusalem, made Aliyah to Israel from Russia in 1970 at the age of 19. He was originally tapped to run for the Knesset by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and was elected on Sharon’s Kadima party list in 2006. Elkin took more hawkish positions than most of his party colleagues, however, and switched to the Likud in time for this year’s elections.
Elkin Takes the Job
Speaking after the appointment became final, Elkin said, “The Likud faction in the Knesset takes upon itself to deal with the many problems in Judea and Samaria [Yesha] that have piled up from the days of the Kadima government. These include the lack of construction permits, and development of the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria. These require urgent attention; this is what we were elected for, and this is what we will do.”
The heads of regional and local councils in Judea and Samaria asked Elkin to head the Judea and Samaria Subcommittee last week. “In light of the tremendous difficulties we are facing,” they wrote him, “and after a most difficult period vis-à-vis the previous government that did all it could to stop the Yesha settlement enterprise, and in the face of the challenges of the future, we need representation on the highest level.”
“Many issues are on the table, including some that truly deal with human life,” the letter states. “We ask that you take this job upon yourself, and believe that you will represent us in the best way possible.”
Elkin Not Put Off by Barak
“We will talk with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and we will reach agreements,” Elkin said with confidence, despite Barak’s frequent threats to destroy unauthorized outposts and his refusal to issue construction permits. “The situation in Yesha is impossible; this is the opinion of the Likud members.”
Barak Rebuffs Yesha Leaders
Barak met on Wednesday with Yesha Council leaders, who explained to him the true extent of what they call the ‘quiet expulsion’ from Yesha. They told him that there are practically no houses for the next generation to move into, and said afterwards that Barak did not have accurate information on this matter until now.
Barak’s spokesmen, however, said afterwards that the information Barak had was accurate. The Defense Minister did not indicate that he would ease up construction restrictions in Yesha, but rather threatened to raze “unauthorized outposts,” in the name of Israeli law.
MK Ariel: Barak Has Other Laws to Keep
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) attacked Barak for his stance: “In the name of Israeli law,” Ariel said, “Barak should make sure to safeguard the security of the Jewish residents, and not take upon himself imaginary projects to maintain the law that have nothing to do with his job.”
“The Defense Minister must carry out his lawful job by signing approved construction plans and not delaying them,” MK Ariel said. "By refusing to sign, he is causing harm to the rule of law.”
MK Regev: Yesha Growth Must Continue
Another Likud MK, former IDF Spokeswoman Miri Regev, diplomatically rejected U.S. President Barack Obama’s demand that Israel stop building in Yesha.
“I believe that Netanyahu related to this issue in his meeting with Obama," Regev said, "and the Likud platform speaks of it as well. We are permitted to settle everywhere in the Land of Israel… We have no right or desire to stop building at the point of ‘natural growth.’ We have to strengthen the Jewish settlement presence in Yesha, and continue to build houses there, in order to protect the State of Israel.”