Akiva Bigman Criticizes Bureaucracy for Undermining Israeli Government on Settlements and Security
Journalist and researcher Akiva Bigman explains how bureaucratic mechanisms, particularly the 2004 Attorney General guidelines and National Outline Plan 35 (Tama 35), have shifted decision-making power away from the Israeli government regarding settlement establishment. Despite over twenty years of government decisions approving dozens of new settlements in regions like the Galilee, Negev, Golan Heights, the Shephelah, and Gaza envelope, many approved settlements have never materialized. Bigman argues this is not an isolated failure but a symptom of a deeper crisis where the elected government has lost its ability to implement policy effectively.
Bigman describes how these legal and planning frameworks transformed government resolutions from direct orders into lengthy bureaucratic processes, effectively paralyzing settlement development. He calls for restoring authority to the government, emphasizing that public support for settlement in the Negev and Galilee remains strong, and the real conflict is between elected officials and bureaucratic institutions. "It is easier for a prime minister to order an airstrike on Iran than to establish a hundred-family settlement in the Galilee," he states.
On military issues, Bigman highlights the ongoing shortage of combat soldiers in the IDF. While recalling some reservists helps address immediate needs, it does not solve the chronic manpower deficit in maneuvering units. He attributes this shortage to past decisions to reduce the reserve forces, which now have lasting consequences.
Regarding the Gaza conflict, Bigman supports maintaining the current defensive line combined with continuous offensive operations as a "good end to the war." On the regional front, he notes that the current US-Iran confrontation without direct Israeli involvement serves Israel's interests for now. However, he warns that if the conflict ends with a mere understanding agreement, it would be disastrous. He stresses Israel must be involved if the US pursues a comprehensive removal of the Iranian threat.
