With some two weeks to the election for 22nd Knesset, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu opted to open the 5780 school year in Shomron, in the community of Elkana, clearly seeking to pull votes from the Yemina party headed by Ayelet Shaked to his Likud party.

During his remarks to open the new school year, PM Netanyahu promised “B’ezras Hashem, we will apply Israeli sovereignty on all yishuvim as part of Eretz Yisrael and the State of Israel”. Accompanying Netanyahu was Minister of Education Rabbi Rafi Peretz, who holds the second slot in the Yemina party.

“We are building new houses here – this is a new house which is an old house – this is an old house, the original of Am Yisrael, and we will build additional Elkana[s],” added the prime minister, who continued, “We will not uproot anyone here. There will not be another Gush Katif, no more expulsions”.

בוקר טוב אלקנה! pic.twitter.com/sicrM8juOL

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) September 1, 2019

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein stated in response, “I congratulate Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on his important declaration. As I said, no one, but sovereignty is an application of our historical right, and also sends and important message to all terrorist organizations seeking to undermine our presence in the Land of Israel.”

Naftali Bennet of the Yemina party added: “Eight years ago, when PM Netanyahu of the Likud hurried towards two states for two peoples, when they argued if they should evacuate 97% or 93% of areas of Yehuda and Shomron, I first published by plan for Yehuda and Shomron. ‘You are hallucinating’ everyone chuckled. Today, the same prime minister says he will apply Israeli law on areas ‘C’, stating he will adopt the plan. We won”.

Bennet added, “Netanyahu implements the right [wing] only when there is a truly ideological right-wing – with a free economy, watching over Eretz Yisrael, restraining the judicial system and more. A small right will lead to the establishment of a government with Gantz, Peretz and Nissankorn, who will prevent sovereignty, prevent a free economy, placing a veto on a judicial revolution”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)