Settlement Diplomacy: Samaria Council Head Builds Coalition in Czechia Against EU Sanctions

Amid threats of sanctions and boycotts from the European Union against settlements in Judea and Samaria, Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, is working to establish a political coalition in Central and Eastern Europe to counter these measures. Dagan held a series of political meetings in Prague with Czech ministers and senior parliament members. During these meetings, he presented strategic maps of Judea and Samaria, explaining the region's importance for Israel's security, particularly concerning the country's narrow waistline. Dagan asserted that Israel and its settlements represent "the front line of the Western world against radical Islam," framing the struggle over Judea and Samaria as crucial for Europe's future. Senior Czech officials expressed strong support for Dagan's positions. Czech Minister of Health and Sports had a positive and extended meeting with Dagan. Andrej Knopek, chairman of the ruling Czech party's faction in the European Parliament, released a joint video stating that "settlement in Samaria is Europe's first front line, and sovereignty in the region is important for the entire Western world." Dagan thanked the officials for their "true partnership" and emphasized their shared struggle for Western values. This diplomatic effort in Czechia follows similar successes in Slovenia, where Dagan met multiple times with Prime Minister Janez Janša, whose government rescinded a boycott on products from Judea and Samaria, and with Deputy Jernej Vrtovec, who publicly supported sovereignty in the region. Dagan praised the close coordination and professional work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and the Israeli Ambassador to Czechia, Amir Weissbord, in opposing boycott regimes.