Eliav Libi Urges Extensive Settlement Expansion in West Bank to Prevent Future Attacks

Eliav Libi, father of the late David Libi and a leading figure in the Shavim Habayta forum, has called for a broad settlement initiative in the West Bank, including Area A, which is under Palestinian Authority control according to the Oslo Accords. Following a deadly attack last weekend, Libi and other forum leaders presented a plan to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocating for Israeli settlement in these areas as a strategic and security necessity, not merely a settlement move.

Libi explained to Channel 7 that the forum was established after the death of his son Yehuda, who was killed during a patrol in the open areas of Judea and Samaria. The plan aims to change both perception and reality by reasserting Israeli presence in these territories, emphasizing that there is no ethical distinction between Areas A, B, and C, as all of the Land of Israel belongs to Israel. He warned that without reclaiming these open areas, 90% of Israeli citizens would face daily terror threats, including increased rocket fire from the West Bank.

Libi criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his role in signing the Wye River Memorandum, which he views as a continuation of the Oslo Accords that helped establish a terror entity in the region. Despite Netanyahu's successes in other security arenas such as Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza, Libi said the government’s approach to the West Bank remains unchanged and insufficient. He urged Netanyahu to abandon what he called a "leftist conception" and take responsibility for the October 7 massacre by changing policy in the West Bank.

In discussions with Smotrich, Libi expressed support for the minister’s leadership on this issue but lamented the lack of broader governmental awakening. He stressed that the settlement revolution has only occurred in Area C and that this is inadequate. Libi framed the proposed changes as a settlement and mindset shift rather than military conquest, warning that failure to act could lead to further bloodshed. He also suggested that undoing the Wye agreements might gain some acceptance even among left-wing factions, as Netanyahu originally promoted them.

Libi concluded by calling on political and military leadership to act before another tragedy forces a painful awakening, emphasizing the need to explain the significance of these territories to all Israelis, regardless of political views.