It's clear you are forced to operate in a complicated and difficult environment, between a rock and a hard place. With us, you will always find an ear willing to listen.
In conciliatory remarks to the heads of local authorities in Judea and Samaria before the New Year, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said that he understood the complicated problems faced by residents of Judea and Samaria – and that they would always have someone to discuss those problems with.
At a pre-Rosh Hashana toast Sunday morning attended by, among others, Yesha Council head Danny Dayan, Yesha Council general director Pinchas Wallerstein, Amana housing company director Zeev ("Zambish") Chever, Binyamin Regional Council head Avi Roeh, Shomron Regional Council head Gershon Mesika, and the mayors of large towns in Judea and Samaria, Ashkenazi said that "it's clear you are forced to operate in a complicated and difficult environment, between a rock and a hard place. With us, you will always find an ear willing to listen," Ashkenazi said. It was the first time since being named Chief of Staff that Ashkenazi had met with such a large number of officials from communities in Judea and Samaria at one time.
Ashkenazi's remarks come against the background of the fierce debate over the removal of what the government terms "illegal outposts" in Judea and Samaria. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has announced several times over the last few months that the outposts will be removed, by force if necessary – and under those circumstances, the IDF, of which Ashkenazi is supreme commander, would be expected to send in soldiers and forcibly remove protestors seeking to prevent the dismantling of outposts.
Ashkenazi did not address the possibility of forced outpost removals directly, but he did say that "during the coming year we will see many challenges, both security related and in other areas. We will have to work together and strengthen our ties," he said.
Later Sunday,IDF troops streamed to the Havat Gilad outpost, destroying a caravan that had been moved from one spot in the outpost to another spot. Troops also attempted to confiscate the truck that moved the caravan. Dozens of demonstrators attempted to protest the soldiers' actions. Witnesses said that soldiers and Border Patrol officers were beating protesters.
Attending the event with Ashkenazi was IDF Central Command head General Gad Shamni, who summed up the past year by saying that it was a good one from a security viewpoint for residents of Judea and Samaria – Jews and Arabs. He, too, talked about "challenges" facing the IDF, telling attendees of the event that "we don't know how these challenges will play out, but the IDF is prepared for any development. We are doing everything we can to help you," Shamni said.
Community leaders received the comments positively, for the most part. Gush Etzion Council head Shaul Goldstein said that "as long as things are done in an orderly manner – meaning after consultations with us – we will cooperate with the army. We hope that the Chief of Staff will stick to his promise to leave the IDF out of the political debate, and to prevent confrontations. I don't think anyone has any political interest in removing outposts now," Goldstein said.
Less optimistic was Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman, who took the opportunity to criticize the construction freeze, official or unofficial, that the government has implemented in Judea and Samaria. "I'm very pessimistic. On the eve of a period of major diplomatic activity that will be very difficult for us, no one is bothering to speak with us. You can agree or disagree, but one thing you can't do is avoid dialog. And afterwards they wonder how things develop," Nachman said, hinting at the likelihood of resistance to removal of the outposts.