המפה שמדאיגה את נדיה מטר: יהודה ושומרון בחוץ

Nadia Matar, Chairwoman of Women in Green, presented the national master plan of Israel, highlighting the absence of Judea and Samaria from the map as a critical issue that leaves the future of settlements in the region uncertain. In a conversation with Dr. Hannah Katan, Matar explained that as long as Judea and Samaria are not an integral part of Israel's planning and sovereignty, the hundreds of thousands of Jewish residents cannot be assured of the settlements' future. She stated, "I want sovereignty because of this map," emphasizing that the current situation is reversible but requires a political solution to secure the settlements' status.

Matar traced her activism back to her childhood in Antwerp, Belgium, and her Zionist upbringing. She described her journey to religious observance and her decision to immigrate to Israel, inspired by events like the Entebbe operation. She felt a strong connection to the Jewish people and a desire to be actively involved in building the nation, comparing life outside Israel to being in the stands rather than on the field.

Upon arriving in Israel, she met her husband, David Matar, a pediatrician, and they settled in Efrat. A turning point came in 1993 with the Oslo Accords, which prompted her and her mother-in-law, Ruth Matar, to co-found the protest movement "Women for Israel's Future," later known as "Women in Green." The movement initially protested against the accords and later focused on strengthening Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria, organizing planting initiatives and advocating for Israeli sovereignty.

Matar recounted the challenges faced by the movement, including lack of media coverage, confrontations with police, and even physical altercations during protests. She noted her mother-in-law's encouragement to speak publicly despite her shyness. Following the disengagement from Gaza, the focus shifted to Judea and Samaria, with Matar and her partner, Yehudit Katzover, advocating for a clear political plan beyond opposing a Palestinian state.

Matar believes that Israel achieved a military victory in the Six-Day War but failed to solidify its political status in the territories. She stressed the need for a political plan to protect the settlements, proudly identifying as a "settler" (mitnachelet) to signify her connection to ancestral inheritance. She acknowledged the complexities of sovereignty, including the status of Palestinian residents, but insisted that the future of Judea and Samaria must be decided, urging that upcoming elections address the issue of sovereignty and Israel's identity. Despite her intense public activism, Matar emphasized the continued centrality of family and motherhood in her life.