Havat Gilad
Havat GiladFlash 90

The news that the Cabinet had approved the proposal to recognize Havat Gilad as an authorized community on Sunday drew praise from Israeli right-wing activists and Yesha leaders.

Yesha Council head Hananel Dorani lauded the move, while adding that Israel should take advantage of its warm relationship with the Trump administration in order to expand Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

"I hope this opens the dam for additional outposts to be recognized by the government," Dorani told Arutz Sheva.

"We have a window of opportunity to deal with all of the outposts and expand these villages," added Dorani. "We have a sympathetic American administration, a rupture between the Americans and the Palestinians, a busy Europe and an Arab world fed up with the PA. If now, when?" asked Dorani rhetorically.

Prime Minister Netanyahu contended that Israel's decision to turn Havat Gilad into a recognized community sent a message that " whoever thinks that through the reprehensible murder of a resident of Havat Gilad, a father of six, he can break our spirit and weaken us is making a big mistake."

Netanyahu's sentiment that recognizing Havat Gilad was a proper response to terrorism was echoed by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, who quoted the biblical passage of "As they beat us, we will multiply and spread,” to illustrate that building in Judea and Samaria should be the default response to terror attacks.

"Shevach's death will not be for nothing," added Edelstein. “We will continue to work toward providing infrastructure, lighting and security needs across Judah and Samaria in order to provide citizens with maximum possible security,”.

The head of the Shomron Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, said, "This is a historic and exciting moment for the Shevach family, for the community of Havat Gilad, for the entire State of Israel. The pioneers of Havat Gilad proved that the spirit cannot be defeated. This is, above all, the victory of truth and of Zionism.”