The Young Settlement Forum is angry about the Prime Minister's move to settle 1,700 Bedouin houses and 170 in settlement • Hanegbi claims that Ganz has reduced the number of settlements to be settled
Illegal Bedouin settlement // Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The unity government will not hold its weekly meeting this week either, but exceptionally the reason is not a confrontation between the Likud and blue and white, but the refusal of Likud ministers to support a decision initiated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue of regulating young settlements.
The crisis began at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Netanyahu brought up for discussion the proposed resolution to regulate three illegal Bedouin localities in the Negev - Rahma, Avda and Hashem Zana.
These localities are home to 1,700 single-family homes on an area of 11,500 dunams.
It is estimated that Netanyahu promoted the decision as part of a political agreement with Minister Amir Peretz and MK Mansour Abbas.
However, during the cabinet meeting a storm broke out.
Many Likud ministers protested that Netanyahu was regulating the illegal Bedouin settlement, while at the same time rejecting the demand of the settlement leaders in Judea and Samaria to regulate the outposts there.
The "revolt" was born out of a campaign of heavy pressure exerted by the leaders of the young settlement on the ministers, during the cabinet meeting.
Following opposition from Likud ministers, Netanyahu removed the proposal from the agenda.
In recent days, it has become clear that Netanyahu intends to make a very thin decision to the government compared to the original.
According to the original proposal, formulated a few weeks ago by the Minister of Settlement, Tzachi Hanegbi, and the Minister of the Ministry of Defense, Michael Bitton, 46 outposts were to be regulated.
However, according to the proposal that Netanyahu is currently formulating, only three points will be settled.
These are the outposts of Asael and Abigail, in the southern Hebron Mountains, and Avnat, in the Dead Sea area.
These localities are home to 170 single-family homes and their total area is only 151 dunams.
The Likud is trying to roll over Gantz the blame for cutting the list.
Hanegbi wrote on Friday: "I demand that Minister Gantz immediately remove the veto on the decision of the fabric of life (to settle the settlement, etc.).
Not three, not four and not five localities within the framework of the 'Bedouin Deal'. "
In blue and white, on the other hand, they strongly reject the accusation that they are responsible for reducing the number of localities that will be regulated, from 46 to three.
The Defense Minister's Office stated that it supports the strengthening of the Civil Administration, so that it will be possible to carry out the settlement processes.
The Young Settlement Forum called on the Likud minister to reject outright the slashed proposal formulated by Netanyahu.
"The prime minister is making fun of us and trying again to work on everyone and 'calm down' with the symbolic approval of three localities. It is unthinkable!"
No response was received from Netanyahu's office.