Israeli Settlers Urge Fundamental Policy Shift in West Bank
Members of the "Homeward Bound" Forum, a group advocating for expanded Israeli settlement, conducted a tour and working meeting in the Benjamin region of the West Bank on Tuesday. The forum, which includes bereaved parents of soldiers killed in conflict, aims to promote its "100 Points Plan." This initiative seeks to significantly increase Israeli presence at strategic locations across the West Bank, including areas outside existing settlements.
The tour focused on understanding the model of agricultural farms and the work being done by the Benjamin Regional Council in open areas. Participants visited several sites deemed geographically and strategically important. The forum presented its plan to Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council (Council of Settlements of Judea and Samaria), who also outlined the council's settlement expansion efforts.
The "Homeward Bound" Forum argues that expanding settlements into more areas of the West Bank could strengthen Israeli control over open spaces without annexing Palestinian population centers. They believe this approach enhances Israel's security depth, particularly in light of the October 7th attacks, and necessitates a reevaluation of long-standing security and policy doctrines. The forum is pushing for the abolition of the Oslo Accords' division of the West Bank into Areas A, B, and C, advocating for Israeli sovereignty over the open territories.
Israel Gantz stated that the current Israeli government has advanced settlement construction and presence, marking a shift from previous policies. He called for official, clear government decisions rather than merely creating facts on the ground. Gantz emphasized that the interim agreements from over three decades ago continue to shape current reality and should be revisited, proposing the elimination of the A, B, and C area divisions and the extension of Israeli sovereignty to open areas in the West Bank.
Eliab Levi, father of a fallen soldier and a leading figure in the forum, stressed the need for a fundamental policy change, citing past experiences that suggest a link between Israeli presence and security. Yehoshua Sherman, another bereaved father and forum member, echoed the call for policy revision, arguing the Oslo Accords' division no longer serves Israel's security needs. The forum intends to present its demands to political party leaders ahead of elections, urging them to clarify their positions on the future of the West Bank, the Oslo Accords, and control of open territories.
