Bennett Draws Right-Wing Fire Over Legal Settlements, Palestinian Autonomy in West Bank

Naftali Bennett, head of the Yachad party, said on Monday evening that he supports legal settlement construction in West Bank Area C, but opposes any building that is illegal, outside Area C, or on privately owned Palestinian land. He said, "What is legal in Area C, on state land that is not privately owned by Palestinians, is welcome to me," and added, "Construction that is illegal or not in Area C or on private land is not legitimate."

When asked whether he would work to remove projects built unlawfully, Bennett replied, "What is not legal, will not be." He also said he backs lawful settlement in Area C because, in his view, "in the end Area C will be part of the State of Israel, Area A and B will be part of the Palestinian autonomy."

His remarks triggered sharp criticism from the right. Finance Minister and Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich said Bennett, who he described as a minister in an Eisenkot-led government, had effectively admitted he would evacuate the farms. Smotrich argued that Bennett was talking about establishing a "Palestinian autonomy," which he called a "terror state in the heart of the country," and warned that such a government would destroy new settlements and agricultural farms.

Benjamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chairman Israel Gantz also condemned the comments, saying Bennett had announced, 10 minutes from his home in Ra'anana, the creation of a terror state. He said the Palestinian Authority already fields about 50,000 armed fighters, described it as a corrupt entity backed by Iran, and warned that after the October 7 massacre, handing it strategic land in the center of the country would be political suicide. Kadumim Council chairman Uzziel Vetek said Bennett's remarks showed he was not moderate but far-left, and argued that the only way forward was to continue the farm project, backed by the security establishment, and to cancel the Oslo Accords and the division into Areas A, B, and C.