Israeli Lawmakers Call to Cancel Oslo Accords and Restore Full Presence at Joseph's Tomb in West Bank
MK Tzvika Fogel and Deputy Speaker Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit conducted a tour in the northern West Bank this morning, emphasizing the need for Israel to fully return to Joseph's Tomb and strengthen Jewish settlement and presence in the area. The visit began at the "Od Yosef Chai" yeshiva in Area A, where they met with Rabbi Yossi Elitzur and yeshiva members who expressed their ongoing aspiration to resume activities directly at Joseph's Tomb despite the Israeli military's withdrawal from Nablus and cessation of regular Israeli presence there.
Fogel and Son Har-Melech highlighted the national and strategic importance of Joseph's Tomb, noting that current secured entries to the site demonstrate the feasibility of gradually expanding Israeli presence until a permanent return is achieved. They stated, "Joseph's Tomb is not a place to visit only at night and leave quickly. It holds Jewish, historical, and national significance, and the goal must be full return."
The delegation then proceeded to the Joseph Lookout overlooking Nablus and Joseph's Tomb, receiving a briefing on the area's strategic significance. They also visited the reestablished yeshiva in Homesh, meeting Rabbi Elishama Cohen and activists who detailed the prolonged struggle to renew settlement there despite difficult conditions. Limor Son Har-Melech previously led legislation to annul the disengagement law in northern Samaria, enabling the return and establishment of settlements in the area.
The tour underscored the link between renewing presence in Homesh and the broader demand to expand Israeli settlement in other evacuated areas. Rabbi Cohen described the persistent efforts of yeshiva students and political activism that overturned what once seemed irreversible. The main message was that canceling the disengagement law is only the first step; now, a wider initiative is sought to reclaim evacuated sites and strengthen Israeli presence, alongside calls to reconsider political arrangements restricting Israeli access to Area A.
MK Fogel said, "I came here to reinforce my belief that the Land of Israel was given to the Jewish people. This is our land, and we must ensure it remains in Jewish hands for future generations." Deputy Speaker Son Har-Melech added, "Joseph's Tomb exemplifies the failure of the Oslo framework. Even the agreements regarding this site were not upheld, and Jews were excluded from one of our most sacred places. If they don't honor Oslo, there is no justification for us to remain bound by it. It's time to cancel the Oslo Accords, restore full Israeli control, and return permanently to Joseph's Tomb. What worked in Homesh will work there too."
