The push toward the extension of Israeli sovereignty to Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria has picked up pace in recent days after a group of Israeli security experts sent a letter to all US senators and House representatives stressing their support for the move.
The group, known as HaBithonistim – Protectors of Israel, comprises more than 1,000 former Israel Defense Forces officials, including some who took part in major battles, as well as former members of other security agencies.
The Trump administration's newly unveiled "Vision for Peace" stipulates that Washington will endorse an Israeli decision to apply sovereignty to large parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley as long as Israel commits to holding good-faith negotiations with the Palestinians and avoids construction in certain areas that could become part of a Palestinian state. That state will only be established four years after negotiations begin and only if the Palestinians fully renounce terrorism and carry out major reforms, and only if they are no longer considered a threat to Israel.
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The letters sent to US lawmakers underlines the important contribution of the move to Israel's security, stressing the importance of seizing the moment by embracing the Trump peace plan.
The signatories wrote as follows: "We find ourselves at a rare and challenging juncture in our history, as we are amongst the first Jewish leaders in more than 2000 years tasked with the responsibility of protecting the Jewish Nation in the only Jewish State. We have returned to our historical homeland, the only land that has ever served as the place of Jewish sovereignty, and we are charged with ensuring that the Jewish People will not be exiled again. The 'Vision for Peace to Prosperity' acknowledges this history and this mission and provides a roadmap that will enable our flourishing Jewish and democratic state to reconnect with our roots in a manner that transcends mere physical security."
They further stressed in the letter that the US Congress would have an important role to play in implementing the plan and bolstering America's posture in the region against destabilizing elements: "In short, the 'Vision for Peace' represents the first realistic approach to actually creating a reality that guarantees Israeli security. For this reason, the 'Vision for Peace to Prosperity' is one of many catalysts that have brought about the recent warming of relations between Israel and an impressive number of Arab countries. With the necessity to unite against Iranian aggression, and as a result of new opportunities for economic cooperation and cultural cross-pollination, it has become clear that these countries will no longer allow their desire for strengthened ties with Israel to be impeded by Palestinian obstinance."
A senior minister in the Israeli cabinet told Israel Hayom that the government is continually engaged on the sovereingty move. "This has not been shelved," the minister said in a closed meeting, adding that the Trump administration has been busy dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and hence has yet to finalize its stance on the matter. "The administration has not said 'No' but it has yet to say 'Yes', so there is still no official decision."
The minister said that it was likely that Israel would be asked to make symbolic gestures toward the Palestinians in order to mitigate the international criticism over the move.
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