Originally published in myesha.org.il, translated by Hillel Fendel
To our residents in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley, and to the friends throughout Israel and the Diaspora supporting the enterprise to return the Jewish people to this land -
We have completed yet another year replete with activity and challenges. We worked in various fields and areas to advance our region towards a promising future, on the basis of our glorious past and challenging present.
As of Rosh Hashana 5781, we are proud of our more than 470,000 Israelis who have chosen to live here in Yesha - Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley. We are similarly proud of our demographic growth, which stands at an average annual rate 4.1% over the past decade. [Ed. note: The US population grew by 0.5% in 2018, and annual world population growth is 1.1%]
We can again note with satisfaction that our region continues to flower and blossom, in terms of residents, houses, infrastructures, and economic development.
The greatness of the responsibility placed upon our shoulders is constantly before our eyes. We are not merely public servants – but servants of the public that has returned, after 2,000 years of Exile, to the parts of our historic land in which most of the Tanakh took place.
In this light, we have set for ourselves clear goals: the application of Israeli sovereignty over these areas, and the development of regional infrastructures to more than double our population to one million! This past year saw blessed progress towards these goals as well.
Just a few short years ago, the topic of sovereignty was an idea that only a few visionaries were discussing operatively. Today, however, sovereignty has become a central issue even in talks between our Prime Minister and the President of the United States. The question is no longer whether there will be sovereignty, but when it will come and over which area precisely. This is of course an important step forward in Israeli and international consciousness.
Over the past year, 5780, there were those who sought to get Israel to agree to a package sovereignty deal that would also involve, Heaven forbid, the establishment of a Palestinian state. We came out against this move, saying that sovereignty must be done right – without the dangers of a PLO state, without a construction freeze, and without isolated Jewish towns. We announced, unhappily, that we could not agree to any outline calling for [yet another] Arab state precisely in the midst of our homeland, even if this would mean a temporary suspension of our dreams for sovereignty.
A few weeks ago, the prime minister announced officially that sovereignty was no longer on the current agenda. For us, however, it will continue to be our practical vision and the signal of recognition of our eternal presence here.
Despite the lack of clarity and certainty stemming from the election campaigns and the unstable government, this year saw progress in terms of our regional infrastructures development. Work continues on upgrading some of our major traffic arteries, such as Lev Yehuda [the road bypassing El Aroub between Gush Etzion and the Hevron area], and Highways 60, 446 and 55. In addition, new tunnels are being built to Gush Etzion, as well as a bypass route around Hawara, near Itamar. Major new plans for water and electricity infrastructures for the coming decades have been presented, and some are already underway.
Most unfortunately, the Supreme Court recently issued yet another sorry anti-growth ruling, this time regarding the community of Mitzpeh Kramim, just outside Kokhav HaShachar in eastern Binyamin. The illogical and unjust 2-1 decision overturned an earlier District Court decision, and ruled that most of the town must be razed – because of questionable Arab claims of ownership. We strongly support the residents at this difficult time, and we will work with them to find other avenues by which to neutralize this decision.
Let us pray for a happy new year, one of health, construction, growth, and a robust economy.
David Alchayani, Yesha Council Chairman
Yigal Dilmoni, Yesha Council Director-General