In an interview with Channel 14, Yehudit Katsover explains the significance of the decision to remove the Palestinian Authority’s powers in the City of the Patriarchs. Sovereignty is returning to the people of Israel.
Following the decision by Finance Minister and Minister within the Defense Ministry, Bezalel Smotrich, to strip the Palestinian Authority of all authority over the holy sites in Hebron and, in effect, nullify the Oslo Accord provisions relating to the City of the Patriarchs, Channel 14 aired a report describing the move as an initial step toward sovereignty.
The report featured an interview with Yehudit Katsover, one of the leaders of the Sovereignty Movement.
"This is simply a dream come true," Katsover told Channel 14 settlement affairs correspondent Eliya Aviv. "This is real sovereignty—when the planning and construction powers are taken away from the cursed Hebron Municipality," she said, describing the absurd reality in which any Jewish construction project or initiative in the City of the Patriarchs could not proceed without the approval of the Hebron Municipality, appointed by the Palestinian Authority and headed by Mahmoud Abbas.
"Today, thank G-d, this is sovereignty, and it should spread throughout all of Judea and Samaria—bit by bit and more and more, although a comprehensive move applying sovereignty everywhere at once would be preferable. We are witnessing a change in policy and status," Katsover said, while praising those who worked to bring about the implementation of the decision.
Katsover is careful not to claim any credit for the decision, although it appears that without public pressure for the application of sovereignty, such developments would not have taken place. "We," she said, referring to herself and her partner in leading the Sovereignty Movement, Nadia Matar, "hope that what we are doing is for the sake of Heaven, and that this voice is being heard and will continue to be heard until Judea and Samaria are under Israeli sovereignty, just like the Golan Heights and Jerusalem. That is our dream, and we will not stop until it becomes reality."
Katsover went on to describe the significance of beginning to reverse the Oslo framework, saying that it is now possible to go to the burial place of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs and tell them that the site is returning to Jewish hands. She recalled one of her children's weddings held at the Cave of the Patriarchs complex when the site lacked a roof and even basic facilities. On that evening, guests—including Israel’s President at the time—struggled through the rain. "Today, it is possible to build and improve the Cave of the Patriarchs. Everything must be under Israeli sovereignty. We cannot continue with this anomaly in which we, the residents of Judea and Samaria, do not enjoy the same status as residents of Ra’anana or Ramat Gan."
Katsover also noted the fifteen years of public advocacy led by the Sovereignty Movement under her leadership and that of Nadia Matar for the application of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. She cited a recent poll showing that 81 percent of right-wing voters support the application of sovereignty.
"The people want this. They have had enough of fears about a Palestinian state—an idea that may currently be off the agenda but could return. We must remove it from the agenda completely and cultivate a national consciousness moving toward sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. That will be the victory and the legacy that the Prime Minister can leave to future generations."