JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The leaders of the settlement movement in Judea and Samaria are divided over the implications of the victory of Joe Biden in the American election. Some members of the Council Of Judea and Samaria have expressed concern over the president’s possible influence over construction in the region, while others are happy that the Trump era is over and see Biden as a true friend of Israel.
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During the course of Trump’s presidency he has initiated numerous pro-Israel moves including transferring the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israel’s sovereignty to the Golan and freezing aid to Palestinians due to their support for terrorist families, but what led to a fissure within the settlement movement was Trump’s Deal of the Century. The plan, which included annexation of the Jordan Valley, had many supporters in the Council of Judea and Samaria but others fiercely opposed the other clauses in the plan calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state on 70% of Judea and Samaria, while leaving settlements isolated within the state, with just 30% of the region in Israeli hands.
Council head David Alchiani sharply criticized Trump for suggesting the establishment of a Palestinian state and has now welcomed Trump’s defeat, claiming that we should not perpetuate the stigma that the Democrats are less good for Israel. “I don’t think we lost a true friend of Israel, true friends don’t led a hand to establishing a terror state,” Alchiani told Walla news , adding that “I’m not sure Biden is less good for Israel. It’s a mistake for Israelis to say that the Democrats are our enemy.”
Alchiani adds that “Trump was the first president who marked the borders of a Palestinian state. Everything that Trump did was from the point of view of ‘how it serves Trump’ and we benefited from some of those actions.” Alchiani presents the normalization between Israel and Sudan as an example, explaining that: “he removed them from the list of supporters of terrorism, and yet he still wants to get a Nobel prize for peace. He is unpredictable and we felt it on ourselves. Now the threat of establishing a Palestinian terror state is not on the table any more.
“It doesn’t matter who the US president is, they were all friends. What matters is how our prime minister behaves. The only one who can effect sovereignty is the state of Israel and its leader” says Alchiani, adding that “there were always differences of opinion but in actual terms, during the period of Obama which was considered bad, there were more building starts in settlements and the demographic growth was greater.
“During the period of Trump antisemitism increased and we as Jews were silent. Why were we silent? Because of the embassy move and the recognition of the Golan? Is that the price? What did we get for moving the embassy? Did the international community recognize it? No it didn’t.”
Har Chevron regional council head Yochai Damri disagrees: “There is no doubt that with regard to the settlement interests and goals of the state of Israel in general- Trump has initiated unprecedented achievements: recognition of the Golan, moving the embassy, peace with the UAE, sanctions on Iran. All of these teach us one thing: Let’s see who’s happy and who’s less happy. If they are happy in Iran then we have what to worry about.”
Damri added that he is concerned about a new policy being adopted by the US: “We will be more challenged on the Gaza frontier, Iran and on the Palestinian front,” he says: “It’s no secret that the number of terror attacks and casualties was smaller during the Trump period than during that of Obama. There was a very specific statement. I hope that the spirit of the Trump policies will continue. We can’t always be worrying about settlement freezes.”
Damri is more concerned about Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris: “When I read an interview with Harris stating that she will endeavor to restore the Palestinian delegation in Washington and stop the construction in Judea and Samaria- it worries me.”
Alchiani is a moron. The only antisemitism that increased was from trump haters and anti Israel democrats. The anti Israel Jew hating democrats are now even more emboldened since even more anti Israel Jew haters have been elected to congress, all fully endorsed by nasty pelosi and other democrats. Hyenap harris has promised to give everything that abbas demands including funding the terrorists, against US law, which bans any funding to the palis as long as they pay terrorists to kill Jews, which they still do.
Israel should have annexed all of the land won in ’67.Israel should be strong and refuse to enter any “peace” talks.
Yeah. Seems like time to back-peddle.
The Democrats are more vocal about their love of Palestinians.
The Republicans say they are pro-Israel and then push Israel to make a Palestinian state, which is dangerous for Israel’s survival. President Obama had many policies which were not good for Israel, but President Bush was the president who pushed Israel to give away Gush Katif, which further endangered Israel. Israel needs to. stand strong against the establishment of any Palestinian state.
It is only dependent on us, do we have the zechus to get what’s good for us. If we stop doing aveiros and start learning Torah on a deep level no one can beat us.