Yair Golan Calls for Removal of West Bank Farm Projects

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, stated in a podcast that farm projects in Judea and Samaria are among the settlements he believes should be dismantled. When questioned by host Yasmin Loketz if the farm projects were included in the settlements he advocated for removal, Golan responded, "Among others." Loketz noted that, to her understanding, these projects are legal, a claim Golan vehemently rejected, stating, "No. Absolutely not."

Golan argued that the establishment of these farms by a few individuals, even on state or survey land, does not legitimize them. He further asserted that the farm projects were not established by a government decision. This statement comes as Golan leads the Democratic Party, a faction within Israel's political landscape.

In response, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent supporter of the farm projects, criticized Golan's remarks. Smotrich characterized Golan's stance as the "work plan of an Eisenkot-Golan-Lieberman government to dismantle the settlement revolution I led in the last term." He elaborated that Golan would dismantle the farm enterprise, Eisenkot would halt construction in the E1 area between Ma'ale Adumim and Jerusalem, and Lieberman would transfer security control in Judea and Samaria to Jordan.

Smotrich warned that such a government would be "completely derelict," expelling Jews from their homes and enabling the establishment of an Arab terror state in the heart of Israel. He urged true right-wing voters not to take risks and to vote solely for the "national camp."