For years, the authority has been building in violation of Area C law, with European funding, virtually uninterrupted. • But the defense minister has decided to put an end to this, and has drafted a plan to curb the takeover within two years. • The Defense System: Strategic Demolition - By Location Near Israeli Localities, Not Just by Scope

• Photo: Yossi Seliger

First publication: Defense Minister Naftali Bennett is working to lower the level of his commitment to halt the Palestinian-European takeover of uninhabited territories in Judea and Samaria. "Israel Today" came to the hands of the practical guidelines recently issued by Minister Bennett to the defense establishment to carry out the move.

In recent weeks, Bennett has held several discussions with senior officers in the Central Command, coordinating government actions in the Judea and Samaria and other representatives of the defense establishment, and has set targets for changing the civil administration's enforcement priorities. According to his statement, the goal is "a complete halt to illegal Palestinian construction within two years. ".

In the central debate held by the defense minister's bureau, attended by the commander of the Central Command, Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan, Coordinator of Government Operations in the Occupied Territories, Maj. Gen. Mill Abu Abu Rukon, Brigadier General Brigadier General Rasan Alian, and legal entities in the defense establishment and the IDF, the full figures on the Palestinian-European effort were presented. The years determine facts in the field. According to information in the security system, in Area C, which is supposed to be controlled by Israel and constitute about 60 percent of all the areas of Judea and Samaria, about 200,000 Palestinians now live in 25 regulated villages and hundreds of illegal building groups.

"Systematic mechanism"

It is estimated that there are more than 1,000 illegal construction starts, most of them foreign-funded, valued at tens of millions of dollars. At the conclusion of a headquarters work prepared in the security system, participants were presented with a map (attached here), detailing the extent of Palestinian activity, which in recent years has received a limited response from Israel.

The defense establishment says it is a "systematic and organized mechanism for the Palestinian Authority to take illegal control over large areas of Israeli control in Area C, as a broad strategic move." This was done as part of the Salam Fayyad "Fayyad" program, which was the Palestinian prime minister a decade ago and the program continues to this day. The plan includes a host of tools used by Palestinians and Europeans, such as widespread illegal foreign-funded construction at controlling points, or those that threaten to strangle Israeli settlement. In addition, the plan includes deliberate flooding of the Israeli judicial system in petitions that will prevent the execution of demolition orders, and more.

According to the Bennett plan, the Arab takeover will be stopped on four levels: operational, economic, legal and explanatory. Enforcement activities will be prioritized to be based on strategic location considerations rather than quantitative scopes. For example, house demolitions will be carried out in accordance with Israeli interest, near traffic jams, or near Israeli settlement.

Monthly report from the system

Bennett instructed the command of the Center and the Civil Administration to tighten their cooperation to carry out the plan. In addition, the Minister requested a monthly report from the Civil Administration regarding the implementation of the plan.

In addition, additional resources are being allocated to carry out enforcement actions, and to increase the number of devices. Bennett also demands that steps be taken to curb widespread European funding for Palestinian construction - funding without which the takeover could not be implemented.

Regarding foreign funding, Minister Bennett said in the hearing that "there will be no such thing as the European Union building an illegal political structure here - and we will stand from the side. We have a position, and it is to stop this." Bennett conveyed a similar message to EU ambassadors in Israel, with whom he met two weeks ago.

During the hearing, Bennett told the ambassadors: "I respect EU activity as part of humanitarian aid, but we will not accept political and illegal takeover of the State of Israel. We will use all tools to curb Palestinian takeover of Area C. The European should not give it a hand. I clearly say: any illegal construction we funded - we will destroy. Too bad the money. We are divided and I do not hide it. "