Applying sovereignty is our historical, national and moral duty. An article by MK Ayelet Shaked, published in Besheva this past Friday. Translated into English by the Sovereignty Movement.
They thought that we were crazy, messianic and cut off from reality, but now it has become a consensus. Almost a decade ago, Bennett and I presented the plan to apply full Israeli sovereignty over Area C. Since then, support for this idea has expanded to broad sectors of the Israeli public, even reaching the White House. During President Trump’s term, there was the important declaration that the right to live in all parts of the Land of Israel is “self-evident”.
The State of Israel could have applied sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and Judea and Samaria last year. The declaration that sovereignty would be applied immediately in all areas of Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria (“on the very first Sunday!”) won loud applause but the response was weak. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu missed the historic opportunity placed before him, and now, during the Biden administration, there is concern that many more Sundays will pass until the dream of sovereignty is realized. It seemed that Netanyahu was really interested in implementing the plan, but it became clear that for him, this dream is just a political maneuver that he is not committed to.
The application of sovereignty is our historic, national and ethical obligation. Historically – because Judea and Samaria are Biblical lands, and settling them is an essential phase of development in the Zionist enterprise; Nationally – because a broad civil presence in the Jordan Valley and Judea and Samaria is a critical strategic goal for national security, today and in the future, and ethically – because we must not allow the situation to continue in which the half million citizens of Israel who live in these areas are discriminated against.
For years they were the ones who were accused, instead of the murderers who tried to harm them, of being the obstacle to peace. But the residents of the settlement enterprise are dedicated people with a pioneering spirit, who view building the Land as a national mission. Their lives are an extraordinary mission on behalf of the Land of Israel, and they teach us how to determine facts on the ground.
Even when it seemed that there was no chance for them, Queen Esther and Mordechai the Jew did not stand down when Haman decreed the Jewish People’s fate. Times have changed, and along with them, the challenges and complexities that we face, but now too, we must do everything so that the Jewish People will continue to exist, by maintaining and developing the settlement enterprise.
From the moment that the fate of Alon Shvut is the same as for Tel Aviv and Givatayaim, a Palestinian state will not arise between the sea and the Jordan River. The application of sovereignty will cut off the dangerous fantasies of establishing a Hamas state 15 minutes from Tel Aviv.
Despite the passing of the American government, which declared that sovereignty would be applied, we will continue with all of our strength to act vis-a-vis any administration to apply sovereignty. Even though it seems that now the task will be more complex, we will stand resolute for our right to the Land of Israel. We will not leave the issue of sovereignty on the shelf – we will turn it into a reality on the ground.
The application of sovereignty is the order of the hour. We, the Yamina party, will make it happen.