Goats in Judea
Goats in JudeaIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and MK Yair Lapid, the leaders of Israel’s two biggest parties, have both said in recent days that Israel must resume negotiations with the Palestinian Authority with the goal of the creation of a new Arab state in Judea and Samaria. However, there is also a second diplomatic plan moving forward in recent weeks: an initiative to annex Judea and Samaria and give Arab residents citizenship.

The annexation initiative is being promoted by the Women in Green activist group. Leaders Yehudit Katzover and Nadia Matar held a special session this week to discuss progress on the campaign.

Long-time Land of Israel activist, former Likud MK and Israel Prize winner Geula Cohen was at the meeting. “It is important to show the public the damage done to Israel by the peace delusion,” Cohen declared.

“Today many realize that the ‘two states’ slogan is a lie,” she continued. “The public is ready for an alternative: declaring Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.”

Israelis need to stop worrying about how the United States, and the rest of the world, will react, she said. When she put forth laws to extend Israeli sovereignty to Jerusalem and the Golan, she recalled, “they threatened that the sun wouldn’t shine the next day.”

“Thank G-d, the sun is still shining, the sky didn’t fall,” Cohen continued. “And, with G-d’s help, that is what will happen if Israel extends its sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.”

Activists discussed the impact of the first three conferences aimed at promoting the annexation plan. An estimated 2,500 people attended the events.

Katzover and Matar reported that in the upcoming months there will be more such meetings, both major conferences and smaller discussions around the country.

Activists also plan to bring the idea to Knesset directly with a lobby to explain the plan to politicians.