Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak appear to be heading towards action that will legalize homes in the Givat HaYovel neighborhood of Yishuv Eli in Shomron, due to the fact that two of the homes slated for demolition belong to the widows and children of IDF officers Ro’i Klein HY”D and Eliraz Peretz HY”D.

Netanyahu, as was the case a decade ago during his first term, was elected on a right-wing nationalistic platform, and as was the case during his first term, he turned his back on voters. It is now clear to all that the prime minister has imposed a ten-month construction freeze throughout Yehuda and Shomron, and in the last 24 hours, it has become increasingly clear that the same policy decision has been extended to areas of the capital viewed as ‘occupied’ by the White House, despite denials from the prime minister.

During his first tenure, Netanyahu honored an agreement signed by his predecessor and turned over portions of Chevron, Ir HaAvos to the PA (Palestinian Authority). He was responsible for land concessions, forfeiting areas of Eretz Yisrael, and during his first year of this second term, has announced, albeit in his deceitful way, that he will forfeit areas of Yerushalayim too as he moves ahead in support of the so-called two-state solution.

The neighborhood in question, the homes in Yishuv Eli, are not an “outpost” as referred to by the government, but a paved legitimate neighborhood constructed on state land, boasting permanent concrete homes, a playground, shul, mikve and other structures. As the residents explain, their right to remain in their homes is not based on the facts that two residents gave their lives in defense of the country, but because Hashem has given the Jewish People a Homeland to settle; and it is as simple as that.

The public pressure opposed to demolishing the homes of the heroes has been immense, to the point where event the radical left-wing Peace Now organization has contemplated backing down from its High Court petition to raze the homes, realizing such a move at this point would be counter-productive to the organization’s humanitarian image.

The government is also reevaluating the situation pertaining to Derech (Netiv) HaAvot, in the Gush Etzion area of Yehuda, which is also slated for demolition, signaling this decision may also be reversed as Barak indicates it appears the homes are on state land [as the residents and community leaders have been explaining].

While settlement officials welcome the apparent reversal by senior government leaders, it appears to be another case of making the correct decision but for the wrong reason and the lack of emunah and ideology on the part of senior ministers is painfully apparent in the policy decisions of the current administration.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)