by Yisrael Ganz, Head of the Binyamin Regional Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council, translated by Hillel Fendel.
The Trump Era presents great opportunities, but the right decisions have to be made in Jerusalem.
I am writing these words soon after participating in the
inauguration of the old-new President of the United States, Donald Trump. One
thing must be made clear: The principle address for our demands regarding Israel's
requirements is not here in Washington, but in Jerusalem. The Government of
Israel is the sovereign leader of the State of Israel, and it is the body
responsible for advancing all processes connected with its land and its future.
I was privileged to take part in this important ceremony, in which
the new leader of the superpower of the U.S. was crowned, as the representative
of all residents of Binyamin and all those of Judea and Samaria (Yesha). The
invitation to the United States' most prestigious ceremony reflects the
appreciation that senior Trump Administration officials have for Judea and
Samaria in particular, and for Israel in general.
It also obligates us to make sure to seize this important
opportunity. We must do everything possible to translate their admiration and
appreciation into extraordinary achievements that will change and enhance the
future of our settlement enterprise and the State of Israel.
It is incumbent upon us to be as relevant as we possibly can so
that we can achieve great things under the new circumstances. However, we are
not naïve. It is clear that President Trump always has America's best interests
in mind, and there is no guarantee that these will always jibe with ours. Our
relations with the U.S. will undoubtedly include challenges in important areas.
But at the same time, no one can dispute that before us stands a unique
opportunity.
Time for Sovereignty in Yesha
Every generation has its historic prospects and challenges. The
previous Yesha leaders merited to build communities and to hold fast to the
Land. It is now upon our shoulders not only to develop the areas with
long-range visions of growth, but also to tie it tightly to the State of Israel
with ropes that do not fray. At present, the sovereignty in Yesha belongs to
the IDF Civil Administration, and we are a type of foster child of the State. The
way to historic justice and to the flowering of Yesha as an integral and
important part of Israel is by applying full Israeli sovereignty over the
entire homeland region of Judea and Samaria.
We address this demand, first and foremost, to the Government of
Israel and its leader, Binyamin Netanyahu. As the man who holds the
responsibility for Israel's future and its security, the decision to do so is
in his hands.
After having spoken to many senior officials in Washington, I can say with certainty that if our Prime Minister places this
matter at the top of his priorities in his meeting with President Trump, the
chances are good that within a relatively short time, we will be able to take a
great step towards this goal.
Within the Administration, as well as the House of Representatives
and the Senate, we saw that there is great potential support for this
initiative. As usual, the way to actualize this is by making the right
decisions back home in the Jewish State.
Many influential members of Congress see us, the Israelis, as the
torch-bearers of the Biblical legacy, and believe that the Holy Land is
Divinely ours. Others simply understand who are the good guys in the Middle
East, and recognize that we in Yesha and Israel represent the frontlines in the
free world's battle against the axis of evil.
Over the past years of contact with several Congressional members,
we constantly reminded them of the need to retract the unfair sanctions that
the Biden Administration placed upon individuals and organizations in Yesha.
These precious friends of ours fulfilled their promises, and within a
half-hour of Mr. Trump's taking office, he signed an Executive Order
voiding the sanctions. He thus sent an important message regarding the future
of Judea and Samaria.
Unlike other mayors and municipal leaders in Israel and around the
world, my decisions cannot be made only on the local level. Rather, they are
international affairs, and are judged not only by my residents, but also by
leaders of world superpowers. When I and my colleagues here try to pave roads, regulate
communities, build industrial zones, construct schools, and try to receive our
fair share of national budgeting – along come international players with their
opinions and guidelines. They happen to know full well what goes on here, and are
familiar with even the smallest details. When we see how important steps for
the future of our residents were blocked by the Biden team, together with
left-wing pro-Palestinian elements, we understand how critical our work is. If
we don't show up in these arenas, no one else will do the work in our stead.
And in fact, for very many years, plans for the future of our
Biblical homeland in Yesha were made over our heads. The decisions were made
behind closed doors, and we weren't there. No more. Today, we are there, and they're
talking with us.
Still, however, "our eyes are peeled to Zion," as we sing in HaTikvah, and we know that it is our leaders who have to make the right and bold decisions. Now is the time for us to proudly, with historic justice, regain our sovereignty over Binyamin, Judea and Samaria.