Yesha leaders are unifying in the hope of bringing an end to the construction freeze, which seems to have lingered over from the Obama administration.

YWN-ISRAEL recently reported that Beit El Mayor Sha Alon joined the protest tent in the Knesset Rose Garden, as he and his colleagues are aware Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is making promises that are simply not back by actions.

Recent examples given are the residents of the Beit El Ulpana neighborhood, who were promised if they left without confrontation 300 new homes would be built in Beit El in place. Another example is that of the residents of the former community of Migron. They too were promised to have homes rebuilt if they leave without confrontation. This was five years ago and Netanyahu has done nothing other than talk and make new promises.

The heads of Yesha communities are now showing support for Along and the residents of the Ulpana community, demanding the construction of the 300 homes promised. Shomron Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan feels this is a “Struggle for the State of Israel”, warning that in the coming four years [of the Trump administration] if construction does not take place, the Obama administration construction freeze will chas v’sholom become the norm.

Dagan blames the Prime Minister, explaining that unlike under the Obama administration his hands were tied, today the decision is his alone.

Yesha Council Director Sheila Adler and Gush Etzion Regional Council head Shlomo Neeman both stand firmly behind Beit El’s demands, with Adler citing dozens of homes have been destroyed in recent years and today, the government is building in Kalkilye, not Beit El.

Neeman feels the real issue lies with the military administration. He feels Israeli law must be extended to Jews living in Yehuda and Shomron towards providing them equal rights and towards reducing the reality the military administration blocks much of the construction.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)