Minister Orit Struck Calls to Expand Israeli Settlements into West Bank Areas A and B

Minister Orit Struck, a member of Israel's Security Cabinet, outlined her vision for expanding Israeli settlements beyond Area C into Areas A and B of the West Bank during an interview with Channel 7. She stated that the current government has begun to rectify the damage caused by the Oslo Accords and the disengagement in Area C, but emphasized that this is only the first step. Struck declared, "This entire land is ours, not just Area C, but also Areas B and A," highlighting that there are 1.3 million dunams of land available without settlements that should be taken for Israeli use.

Addressing the upcoming elections, Struck criticized those supporting political withdrawals and urged voters to reject candidates like Hili Tropper, advocating instead for her party which aims to prevent relinquishing Israeli land to foreign hands. She also discussed the Ministry of Settlement's efforts to promote legislation enabling the establishment of local authorities for new communities without residents, facilitating new settlements in the Negev, including the cities of Tila and Kseif, as well as advancing settlement in the Galilee and along the eastern corridor.

Regarding the October 7 attacks, Struck attributed them to policies of territorial withdrawal, noting that this conflict is the first since the Six-Day War where the political outcome is not an Israeli retreat. She asserted that Israel is now "inside enemy territory" in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria. Finally, Struck expressed support for drafting Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews into the Israel Defense Forces, emphasizing the need to integrate them into military service with frameworks adapted to their community's needs.