Cabinet ministers on Thursday evening a series of measures promoted by Minister Bezalel Smotrich to strengthen the communities in Judea and Samaria and impose sanctions against the Palestinian Authority (PA) following the measures it promotes against Israel in the courts in The Hague, including arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The Cabinet approved a package of measures that includes the cancellation of permits and various benefits for senior PA officials, restricting the movement of PA senior officials and preventing them from leaving the country, enforcing their incitement offenses, expelling senior officials, withdrawing enforcement powers from the PA in the Judean Desert and enforcement actions against rampant construction in the area, enforcement in Area B against damage to heritage sites and environmental hazards, and more.
In addition, the members of the Cabinet approved the regulation of five localities in the young settlement: Evyatar in Samaria, Sde Ephraim in Binyamin, Givat Assaf in Binyamin, Heletz in Gush Etzion and Adorayin on Mount Hebron.
On the subject of construction in Judea and Samaria, the publication of tenders for construction and the convening of the Supreme Planning Council to approve plans for thousands of housing units were approved.
Smotrich said, "After weeks of discussions, the Israeli government is promoting an appropriate response to the anti-Israeli measures led by the Palestinian Authority. The sanctions against the Palestinian Authority and the promotion of communities in all parts of our country are a clear message: For every country that unilaterally recognizes the PA as a state, we are establishing a community. The Palestinian Authority joined Hamas in attempts to harm Israel at home and abroad, and we will fight it. For those who needed proof, we got it on October 7. A Palestinian state in the heart of Israel is an existential threat, I will not allow such a disaster to be brought about the State of Israel."
The head of the Benjamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, Israel Ganz, welcomed the cabinet's decision to approve five communities in Judea and Samaria.
"We congratulate the cabinet on this move which will strengthen the State of Israel and we thank Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Bezalel Smotrich for leading the initiative," he said.
"Judea and Samaria is crucial for the security of central Israel and strengthening it is reinforcement for Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba, Modi'in and Jerusalem."
"Especially in these difficult days, when we are at war for our home, strengthening the communities in the land of our ancestors is the proper Zionist response to the countries that are trying to promote a stranglehold on Israel by establishing a Palestinian state in the heart of the land over the beds of our children. We will continue to work with all parties so that more 'young communities' receive the recognition they deserve," concluded Ganz.