Last night, at the end of Shabbat, finance minister and minister at the Ministry of Defense, Bezalel Smotrich, called on the heads of the Judea and Samaria authorities for an urgent consultation following the security situation in Judea and Samaria.
Fourteen mayors and heads of authorities from Judea and Samaria, and the Jordan Valley, participated in the meeting, which took place in the office of the minister of defense in Jerusalem.
The heads of development in the regions put forward firm demands, which included the following: the erection of checkpoints in the Judea and Samaria region, an operation to collect all weapons and to take steps to undermine the financial mechanisms of the terror organizations, with immediate effect.
Additionally, they demanded immediate action towards reinforcing the area, such as investing in infrastructure and transport, and expanding crossings and development throughout Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley regions.
After the discussion, Shlomo Ne’eman, Chairman of the Gush Etzion Regional Council and Head of the Yesha Council, said the following:
“Our statement is sharp and clear: We will not allow the security of half a million residents of Judea and Samaria to be abandoned to the Oslo Accords, which for a long time have been immaterial.
The Arab towns and villages of Judea and Samaria have become the headquarters for the enemy’s offensive operations against the citizens of Israel everywhere in the country, while the residents of Judea and Samaria are situated on the battlefront.
We demand that the government provide a plan of action that takes on two angles, being sur mera ve’ase tov - turning away from evil and doing good.
Unwavering actions against the enemy also includes collective punishment and impairment to the Palestinian Authority, which produces terrorism, finances terror, and educates towards terror against development in Judea and Samaria without hesitation.
It is time to pass a government decision in support of building up Judea and Samaria, which means taking substantial steps immediately.
The history of our country has proven that the most appropriate Zionist answer is to act harshly against the enemy and continue construction and development in the Jewish communities.
We thank our friend, Minister Smotrich, for convening this discussion and listening to us. The minister has accepted and agreed to our demands and pledges to act with the prime minister and the state security cabinet to realize these demands.
We have told him unequivocally: You are the state leadership; we trust you and will fully support you in every firm action taken. Our heroic residents are prepared to suffer for Israel’s victory against her enemies, but they will not agree to be used as moving targets in the land struggles of the Palestinian Authority.“