Netanyahu Demands Urgent Action on Legal Status of West Bank Farms Amid Security Concerns

The Israeli Security Cabinet discussed the legal regulation of farms in the West Bank on Monday, but the meeting quickly turned confrontational over delays in advancing the issue. Government Secretary Yossi Fox criticized the lack of progress, stating that the farms serve as a security belt for settlements and that despite a decision to regulate them, the Attorney General's office has not responded for five months. Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the criticism, noting that the military commander supports the move and questioning why the Attorney General has not finalized the matter.

Fox pushed to expedite the process during the meeting, urging immediate authorization for the military commander to sign off. The Deputy Attorney General responded that further bureaucratic work was needed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected this explanation, demanding to know why the process was taking so long, saying, "I support bureaucratic work, but how long does it take?!"

Fox emphasized the security necessity of the farms, warning that delays harm residents' safety. Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich also blamed the legal advisors for dragging their feet, linking the delay to difficulties in establishing structures for youth in the settlements. Itamar Ben-Gvir concluded with a sarcastic remark about Attorney General Gil Limon, suggesting he should focus on preventing Ben-Gvir from attending conferences rather than delaying farm regulation.