It has been about a week since the announcement that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has not given the green light for building any new homes in Yehuda and Shomron. Among Bayit Yehudi MKs, there is little discussion on the matter other than an occasional statement from MKs Betzalel Smotrich and Shuli Muallem. Senior party officials, Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett remain silent.
The silence however does not reflect their positions, as Bennett and Shaked are fuming over the fact the prime minister continues stalling. The fact that there was talk of building ‘only’ 2,000 housing units has them furious as well. With US President Obama and his administration out of office and the recent successful visit of US President Donald Trump, they are questioning why widescale construction throughout Yehuda and Shomron has not begun.
To date, every move and statement from Bennett was met with a response from the prime minister or his office or a Likud representative. Bennett has finally realized that each time he comes out on the offensive regarding government policy, the response has been “Why are you attacking Netanyahu?”
This time around, the decision was made to permit Mr. Netanyahu to stew in it and not permit him an opportunity or forum to deflect the public’s opinion and draw attention from his policies. Even as heads of the Yesha Council tried to enlist the heads of Bayit Yehudi, albeit without success. Bayit Yehudi officials are of the belief that their continued silence is causing PM Netanyahu to sweat as he tries to explain realities to members of the nationalist camp, his supporters. The situation they explain is compelling PM Netanyahu to make promises that he will have to keep, optimistic promises regarding building in Yehuda and Shomron, and one day he will have to make good on this somehow or pay the price politically and at the polls. They are not giving him a forum to draw attention away from his inactions to Naftali Bennet and his party as he has successfully done on so many occasions in the past.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
I agree that it is way past time to expand housing in all areas of Israel including Yehuda and Shomron.
Prices of apartments are so very expensive and young couples are having very serious problems finding housing.
Let us build the future for the future generations!