Opposition Figures and Haaretz Criticize Shomron Council Head Yossi Dagan Over Settlement Expansion

Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, has come under sharp criticism from left-wing figures and the Israeli newspaper Haaretz due to his role in advancing settlement activity in northern Samaria. The controversy intensified following the ground-breaking ceremony for the Amichai settlement and plans to reestablish the Kadim settlement, which was evacuated during the disengagement.

Moshe Radman, a Democratic Party Knesset candidate and a leader of the Kaplan protest movement, condemned Dagan on social media, calling him "one of the most dangerous people for the continued existence of the State of Israel." Radman criticized the right-wing for reigniting tensions in northern Samaria by reviving isolated settlements like Kadim.

Haaretz published a critical editorial titled "Steal As Much As You Can," featuring a photo of Dagan at the Amichai ceremony alongside government ministers and public figures. The editorial accused settlers and the government of unilaterally creating facts on the ground while ignoring the Palestinian issue and the two-state solution ahead of upcoming elections. It warned that without a dramatic policy shift, a future disaster is inevitable.

Haaretz blogger Shmuel Meir also attacked Dagan, describing him as the de facto commander of northern West Bank settlements, overshadowing official military leadership. The coordinated criticism highlights the growing tensions over settlement expansion and its political implications in Israel and the occupied territories.