Liebskind Questions What Bennett, Lapid and Eisenkot Would Do on Settlements

In a column published Friday in Makor Rishon, journalist Kalman Liebskind argued that settlement, security and legal issues should be at the center of the debate before the next election. He praised the current government’s record in Judea and Samaria and questioned where Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot stand on these issues if power changes hands.

Liebskind wrote that the impact of policy in the West Bank concerns not only settlement residents but also people in the Sharon region, because, in his view, current policy is meant to prevent “the next October 7” from emerging out of Samaria. He asked whether the center-left bloc would continue the current line, writing that the areas of Judea and Samaria are not a private matter but “the Zionist and settlement security belt of the small State of Israel.” He added, “Have you ever heard from them a kind word about the direction Smotrich is taking in this regard?”

He said Bennett, Lapid and Eisenkot avoid detailed positions on diplomatic and security questions, and instead use broad slogans such as “reconciliation,” “healing” and “restoration” without explaining their core views. Liebskind also cited former transportation minister Merav Michaeli, saying she avoided advancing projects in Judea and Samaria, and claimed local council heads in the area did not receive responses to their requests during Bennett’s previous government.

Liebskind contrasted that with what he described as the current government’s achievements in the area, especially by Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party and Orit Strock. He cited approval of many new settlements, an unprecedented campaign against illegal Palestinian construction, and the establishment of dozens of farm outposts that, he said, both block Palestinians from taking over open land and increase drivers’ sense of security. He concluded by calling Bennett a “big question mark,” and said Lapid and Eisenkot hold policy positions different from the current government on settlement and any future agreement with the Palestinians.