Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had Cabinet Secretary Tzvi Hauser poll his cabinet ministers, obtaining approval to reclassify many communities in Yehuda and Shomron, 70 in total, removing them from the government’s priority list for future construction and development. So much for the prime minister’s statements during the party primary race this week, when he assured voters that he remains loyal to the party’s ideology.

The reclassification of communities included Kiryat Arba, Efrat and Ariel too, with the last two viewed as being “in the national consensus”, areas that the government vows will remain under Israeli sovereignty forever.

Settlement Council leader Danny Danon sent an urgent letter to government ministers, questioning why yishuvim are being removed; pointing out the cabinet alone cannot make such a decision. He demanded the cabinet hold another session discuss the matter. The decision has since been reversed.

Minister of Science (HaBayit HaYehudi) Rabbi Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz voted against the move, adding “with all due respect to the United States, Israeli is not a 51st state but a sovereign independent nation”.  Minister of Energy and Water (Ichud HaLeumi) Dr. Uzi Landau also opposed the move.

MK (Likud) Danny Danon called the vote a “a government failure by a Likud administration”.

Ironically, the move comes as the government added hundreds of municipalities to the priority  list, entitling home buyers to benefits. This was compelled by a High Court decision to add Arab municipalities as well.

While his name was not mentioned, settlement officials feel that Defense Minister Ehud Barak launched the initiative. Others explain that move was prompted by pressure from United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who opposes any construction in yishuvim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)