Efrat Council Head Warns Settlement Evacuations in West Bank Remain Possible

Dov Shafler, head of the Efrat local council, warned that despite the 21 years since the Gaza Strip disengagement, the lessons from that event have not been fully absorbed. Speaking at a Gush Katif Heritage Center conference, Shafler recalled his personal experience living under harsh conditions before the 2005 evacuation and emphasized the ongoing security and political challenges in the West Bank. He cautioned that the possibility of evacuating settlements remains real, especially under an unfavorable government or any political agreement involving the West Bank, stating, "Anyone who talks about a political arrangement in Judea and Samaria is talking about evacuating settlements."

Addressing the security situation after Operation Iron Swords, Shafler highlighted that Israel is simultaneously managing fronts in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. He criticized current military efforts as insufficient, calling for a significant escalation including deploying at least two IDF divisions to conduct thorough operations in towns and villages to "clean" the area. He warned that failure to act decisively could lead to a repeat of the October 7 attacks in the West Bank.

On settlement expansion, Shafler noted a significant increase in activity around Efrat over the past year, including developments near Havat HaYotam and the establishment of a new caravan neighborhood on Sakhar lands. He announced plans to build at least two more such neighborhoods to prevent takeover of open areas. He concluded by urging decision-makers to learn from the mistakes of the past and avoid uprooting settlements again.