Judea and Samaria

Fast Day to Mark 5th Anniversary of Gaza Pullout

Yesha Council rabbis call on the public to participate in a day of fasting and prayer to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Gush Katif pullout.

Reuters: PA Expected to Agree to Direct Talks

With the Knesset in recess and many still on summer vacation, Yesha leaders fear a continuation of the settlement freeze in order to appease Abbas.

Zionist Internet Struggle to Hit Wikipedia

A new course teaching how to write Zionist themed entries in Wikipedia will soon be offered.

US Report: Israel Hampers Training of PA Forces

New US report accuses Israel of delaying transfer of key equipment for training Arab security forces to PA. There are reasons.

Defense Ministry: No Change in Status of Yovel and Haresha

Defense Minister Ehud Barak's office said Saturday night that his office's policy on the Yovel and Haresha neighborhoods has not changed.

Talent Event Empowers Youth in Samaria

Samaria (Shomron) Council head about local youth talent event: "We see great importance in empowering our youth - the future of our communities"

Monthly Trade Fair Features Judea, Samaria Goods in Jerusalem

The OU-Israel Center is holding monthly trade fairs to promote Judea and Samaria goods boycotted by the PA. A Knesset panel wants counter-boycott.

Live Video Links Yesha with Schools in LA, NY and Australia

A novel concept puts Jewish children in Samaria in video contact with their counterparts in four Diaspora schools. They sang Purim songs together.

Gush Dan Resident, Former Aide to Bibi, Is New Yesha Director

A Gush Dan resident who headed Netanyahu’s office when he was Opposition leader has been appointed to replace Wallerstein as Yesha director.

Gush Emunim Leader: Yesha Council Problematic but Irreplaceable

Veteran settlement movement leader Benny Katzover voices support for Dayan after Wallerstein quits.

Police Destroy, Residents Rebuild - Third Time

The Ben-David family of Negohot, south of Hevron, has returned to rebuild its home - for the third time - following the police destruction action.

Forward-Looking Farewells to Wallerstein

The settlement leader’s many years of building are appreciated, but some say his recent approach to fighting the government is now passé.

Controversial Settlement Leader Retires After 35 Years

Pinchas Wallerstein, leaving public life, says he will continue to make his opinion known – but will not publicly oppose the Council.

PA Leader Burns Yesha Products; Labor Union Warns of ‘Backfire’

PA Prime Minister Fayyad helped torch Jewish products from Judea and Samaria, but the Histadrut labor union warns he may be burning Arab jobs.

Israeli Bank, Owned by Europeans, Cuts Off Yesha

Dexia Bank, owned by a European parent company, ordered a ban on credit to councils in Judea and Samaria and wants accounts closed.

Human Rights Activists Ban ‘Settlers’ at Protest March

Activists have drawn the ‘red line’ at the Green Line to ban a Yesha rights newspaper at a march on behalf of people’s’ rights. “It’s propaganda.”

Britain Increasing Economic Pressure on Judea and Samaria Jews

The British government has advised supermarkets to distinguish between Jewish and Arab products from the Judea and Samaria regions of Israel.

Residents of Samaria Foil Arab Terrorist Attack

An Arab terrorist tried to stab residents in the community of Revava, who struggled and overpowered him, and wounded him lightly.

Budget Passes to Bulletproof Buses in Judea and Samaria

The Knesset Finance Committee on Tuesday approved a special budget allocation for bulletproof buses on routes traveling through Judea and Samaria.

New 'JNF' to Help Jews Rebuild Destroyed Homes

Alternative JNF? Fund, based on nickels and dimes - and more - of contributors worldwide will help Jews rebuild homes destroyed by security forces.

Yesha Council Heads Refuse to Meet Barak

The heads of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria have refused a request by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to meet with him in his office.

Video: Rabbis to Discuss Anti-Expulsion Orders

Yesha Council Rabbi Mordechai Rabinowitz tells Israel National News TV about a new group of rabbis discussing anti-expulsion orders.

Police Fined a Total of $315 for Brutal Beating of 15-Year-Old

Two policemen brutally beat a 15-year-old Shomron resident for not having an ID card, which he cannot obtain until he is 16. They were fined $315.

Poll: Israelis Negative on ‘Diplomatic Process’

Poll: PA “peace plan” is naïve and dubious. The PA is not a peace partner and Israel should not allow international forces to defend its borde

Creeping Disinformation: Judea and Samaria 'Not Part of Israel'

Creeping Disinformation: A rental car clerk told a client: Judea and Samaria are not in Israel. A gas pump worker said it’s illegal to live there.

Barak, Bibi Reach Out to Left, Right

PM Netanyahu reassured Israel's political right on Thursday as Defense Minister Barak sought to calm the left.

Judea and Samaria Leaders Prepare to Fight the Freeze

Community leaders from across Judea and Samaria met Thursday to plan their battle against a building freeze.

Hareidi-Religious Join Outpost Struggle

A new Jewish outpost has been built near Modiin, this one by members of the hareidi-religious community.

Barak-Bibi Building Freeze Puts Chill on Yesha Schools

Building freeze: Children in urban cities returned to well-equipped schools while thousands of Yesha kids make do with makeshift structures.

Barak: Committed to Destroy Outposts

Defense Minister Barak tells Judea and Samaria leaders that he's committed to destroying outposts, they demand freedom to build.

Key Yesha Leader Boycotts ‘Farcical’ Meeting with ‘King’ Barak

Gershon Mesika, chairman of the Shomron Regional Council in Samaria, boycotted a Yesha meeting with Barak: “This is a political farce.”

Businessmen Bust Yesha Building Freeze Myth

The so-called building freeze in Yesha affects homes and schools but not businesses. Barak has stopped “natural growth” but not business growth.

Yaalon: Jews Must Live Everywhere in Israel

Deputy PM Yaalon says Jews should be allowed to live anywhere in the land of Israel, calls on government to authorize Jewish building.

IDF Evacuates Caravan in Major Settlement Bloc

The IDF took a far-reaching step Wednesday when it evacuated a caravan from a community west of the separation barrier at a large Jewish town.

Hershkowitz: Foreign Pressure Over Outposts 'Unacceptable'

American and European pressure on Israel to dismantle so-called illegal outposts is “unacceptable,” says Minister Daniel Hershkowitz.

Jews to Pay for Their Own Expulsion?

IDF prosecutors recommend that Jews being evicted from unauthorized outposts be forced to pay the costs of their expulsion.

Yesha Towns Promoted for UN Prize for ‘Human Settlement’

Towns in Judea and Samaria, branded as “settlements” by the world community, are being suggested for the UN Habitat Prize on “human settlement.”

Jewish Start-Ups Under Threat of Destruction

Barak: Destruction of outposts will happen soon. Shomron Residents Council establishes a Youth Council to help buttress Judea/Samaria settlement.

600,000 Jews in Yesha, Eastern Jerusalem May Stymie US Plans

The move to Yesha and Jerusalem continues to outstrip growth elsewhere and is a further obstacle to US policy that “settlements are illegitimate."

IDF Ignores Threat of Celebratory Gunfire, Yesha Jews Say

Jews in Judea and Samaria are used to hearing celebratory gunfire from Arab towns. The 'festive' fire can be dangerous, some warn.

Olmert to Obama: Get Off Israel’s Case

Olmert wrote in the Washington Post that Obama’s demand for a Yesha building freeze is a mistake. “Why did the PA reject peace offers?” he asks.

Obama Reaches Out to Jews, Excludes Pro-Yesha Zionists

President Obama, worried over criticism from Jewish supporters, has invited Jewish leaders for a talk but has excluded major pro-Yesha groups.

US Denies Report of Compromise on Homes for Jews in Yesha

The State Department denied an Israeli media report of an agreement to build 2,500 homes for Jews in Yesha in return for a subsequent freeze.

EU Apologizes for Anti-Yesha Remarks

The European Union has apologized to Israel for accusing the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria of causing economic strangulation for Arabs.

Israel Slams EU for Claiming Settlements ‘Strangle PA Economy’

The government strongly condemned the EU for alleging that a Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria is “strangling the PA economy."

Obama Turns to Pope to Back Mideast Plan

U.S. President Barack Obama is turning to the Pope to back his vision of a new Arab state on all of Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.

Israel ‘Fed Up' with US Declarations against Yesha

“Settlements, settlements, settlements” has been the Obama mantra since he took office. The Netanyahu gov't is “fed up,” a senior official said.

Is Israel Negotiating with US or with PA?

Talks between Israel and the PA for a new Arab state have turned into a dialogue with the US. An American reporter asked, “What is the real goal?”

Terrorism Down, American Pressure Up: IDF Removes Checkpoints

Security officials talk, US exerts pressure and IDF cuts back Judea and Samaria checkpoints - 60% since last year. Residents are concerned.

Obama’s Plans for PA State Stuck in Neutral

Mitchell and Netanyahu abruptly cancelled a meeting for this week in order to “clarify issues.” Mitchell will try again with Barak next week.

Clinton vs. Lieberman in Bare Knuckles Fight over Yesha

Clinton held no punches and told Lieberman at a news conference, “Stop the settlements.” Lieberman, who lives in Yesha, replied, “No way.”

Ambassador Oren: Court Would Back Jews Building in Yesha

Michael Oren, Israeli envoy to the US, says the government cannot legally halt Jews from building in existing Yesha communities.