Sovereignty could certainly be one of the most significant steps in the Trump era, but it will entail a direct confrontation with the terror monster that has burgeoned in Judea and Samaria, and we can no longer ignore it. An interview with Caroline Glick
The chances of applying sovereignty during this period depend largely on us and the outcome of the war, says columnist, author, and researcher Caroline Glick, an expert on the U.S. administration and its relations with Israel. “Currently, the outlook appears favorable, but we need to see what develops in Gaza, especially if we actually defeat Hamas and the subsequent implications for Judea and Samaria and the Palestinian Authority.”
“I believe sovereignty will begin with intensive military operations in Judea and Samaria. This should include, whether intentionally or unintentionally, dismantling the PA, whose forces we see operating with RPGs in Jenin – a very dangerous situation. Jenin has Gaza-like potential and these threats must be confronted. Operations against PA, Hamas and Islamic Jihad forces will lay the groundwork for the assertion of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.”
In her remarks, Glick draws attention to the fact that unlike in the past, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now defines Judea and Samaria as one of seven fronts Israel is facing. “We receive near-daily warnings regarding the scale of the threat that could materialize at any moment if we fail to address it. It won’t be a picnic. Abbas and all Arafat’s murderers and their descendants won’t go away quietly, nor will they allow us to live in peace, and the same applies to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. This represents a genuine military threat, and highlights the necessity for Israel to maintain control over all of Judea and Samaria as the sole armed entity, alongside our national imperative to protect our heartland, Judea and Samaria. We cannot achieve the second without the first. We created a monster here and we’ll have to dismantle it.”
Regarding the new administration’s role in the evolving situation in Judea and Samaria, Glick says: “The administration can offer diplomatic backing for military operations we must undertake in Judea and Samaria. Until now, we have been unable to execute the necessary measures to eliminate this threat because the Biden administration saw the presence of IDF forces – rather than terror forces – as the problem here.” Glick observes that the Air Force’s unprecedented operations in Judea and Samaria, though still inadequate, signal a shift in the perception of the area as a genuine threat necessitating a substantive response.
American backing for crucial military steps
“Since October 7th, security forces have thwarted over 10,000 attacks in Judea and Samaria – an astronomical figure. This is not a quiet area. That we continue to maintain a normal lifestyle here in Judea and Samaria is an illusion. The threat we face is not sustainable in the long term.”
Based on her knowledge of President Trump’s inner circle, Glick asserts that Israel can expect the diplomatic support it will require for such operations. “These people aren’t antagonistic to Israel, especially in contrast to the previous administration, which was the most hostile we’ve ever experienced. They were part of Obama’s team, the same team, and it appears that the same guiding principles persisted under Biden, as the Democratic Party has undergone significant radicalization since 2017. We encountered people who exhibited unprecedented hostility towards Israel, imposing sanctions on Israelis without justification, without any legal basis, although no one was harmed by their actions. Yet, they received treatment typically reserved for mafia dons and international drug traffickers.”
We’re shifting now from a hostile and abusive administration – one that opposed the eradication of Hamas and viewed Israel as the villain for its control over Judea and Samaria – to an administration that supports us. That is why I am confident they will back our military activities against the Palestinian threat posed to Israel from Judea and Samaria.”
The Iranian challenge should not hinder Israel’s pursuit of sovereignty
Isn’t it conceivable that we might be surprised by Trump demanding to halt any progress toward sovereignty in order to forge a regional coalition against Iranian nuclear aspirations? “Addressing Iran requires not a coalition but bombs,” Glick replies. “Israel’s delay in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat, to my understanding, was due to the arms embargo that the outgoing administration imposed on us. We must confront the Iranian threat directly, and for that, there’s no need for a coalition.”
“If the current regime in Tehran collapses as a result of Israel’s current war, a new government may emerge in Iran that seeks to restore the pre-1979 peace that existed between Israel and Iran prior to the revolution. If we encounter a new Iranian regime that does not harbor animosity towards us and desires friendly relations and peace with Israel, the entire regional dynamic will shift. Time will tell where Saudi Arabia stands within a regional reorganization caused by the downfall of the Iranian regime. In such a scenario, Saudi Arabia’s leverage might diminish, enabling Trump to pursue different strategies.”
In this potential new reality, Glick believes it will be essential to convince the American president to relinquish illusions of a Palestinian state as a recipe for peace – something that was unattainable under Biden’s administration. “That was an administration whose entire purpose was to force us to coexist with existential threats – both from the Palestinians even before October 7th and certainly afterwards – as well as from Iran. Immediately upon taking office, the Biden administration strove to renew nuclear talks with Iran, fully aware that this would lead to a nuclear-armed Iran.”
Glick sees the current reality as a historic opportunity that Israel must not squander through diplomatic missteps. “We are at a pivotal juncture. The victories our fighters have brought have placed us in a position where for the first time in generations we can ensure Israel’s security potentially for a hundred years ahead. If we allow this opportunity to slip away and bring down this government for any reason – failing at this moment – and do not make the most of this opportunity, history will judge us and all those involved harshly.”
The interview was first published in Issue 18 of the Sovereignty Journal. Click here for the issue.