Prime Minister Netanyahu met today (Wednesday) with the heads of the Judea and Samaria municipalities. At the meeting, Netanyahu said, "I told President Biden that the accusations against the settlements are baseless. There is a small extremist minority that does not come from the settlements, we condemn them and deal with them with all the severity of the law." As they left the meeting, the mayors were surprised to discover that the prime minister's announcement of the meeting dealt only with the issue of the accusations. "Why should we condemn something that doesn't exist?" they argued.
The prime minister's comments came after Biden said last month that "settler violence against Palestinians must stop." A week ago, U.S. officials said they were "concerned about a significant increase in violence against Palestinians."
Clashes in the area of the village of Sawiya between settlers and Palestinians // Arab networks
Netanyahu and Blinken, Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom / GPO
Yesha Council Chairman Shlomo Ne'eman said in a meeting with the prime minister that this was a blood libel. "Every third soldier killed is a resident of Judea and Samaria and I have to prove that I didn't put blood in matzah?!" Ne'eman also demanded, together with the other mayors, not to allow the olive harvest, in order to create a clear barrier.
Netanyahu also clarified at the meeting that the IDF and security forces are constantly working in Judea and Samaria to thwart attempts by a Hamas network in the West Bank, and that the modus operandi have shifted from defensive to offensive, which is reflected in night arrests and various actions.
IDF activity in Judea and Samaria, photo: IDF Spokesperson
Central Command engineering forces destroy infrastructure in Judea and Samaria for fear of IEDs
On the subject of construction in Judea and Samaria, during the meeting, Neaman demanded a meeting of the MATA, the central planning bureau in Area C, in order to issue permits for new construction. Netanyahu responded: "We are busy eradicating Hamas." Ne'eman replied: "Well, exactly, that's the answer to the terrorists – strengthening the settlements."
Efrat Local Council head Oded Revivi said after the meeting: "I hope that the dialogue between the prime minister and the heads of the Judea and Samaria municipalities will be the cornerstone of a process of dialogue and meetings between the heads of state and the heads of the systems with the heads of the local authorities in the envelope and the heads of the authorities on the confrontation line. The voice of the mayors is the voice of the residents and they are the best mediator between the government and its citizens."
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