A senior member of the Yesha Council has expressed outrage at what he perceives as the government's inadequate response to escalating international sanctions targeting Israeli organizations and government officials. The official's comments come as the US State Department announced Wednesday measures against an Israeli settler group, and the European Union is considering sanctions against ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir.
While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds frequent meetings about The Hague's warrants against him and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, sanctions against settlement organizations and individuals have so far received only a few press releases and no concrete action. In a conversation with Israel Hayom, a senior Yesha Council official reminded that just two weeks ago, Netanyahu promised to appoint a project manager to address the sanctions issue, but nothing has happened.
"We've had enough of words and press releases. The situation where law-abiding people in legitimate settlement organizations find themselves under sanctions without anyone speaking up – this will not continue," the official stated.
He added, "The prime minister received an orderly work plan, and we will no longer be satisfied with press releases – only actions."
In a meeting two weeks ago, Netanyahu committed to the heads of the councils in Judea and Samaria that he would appoint a project manager to handle the sanctions and provide them with a toolkit, but so far, only promises have been made. The senior Yesha Council official demanded that the project manager be appointed Wednesday at the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet meeting.
According to the official, "We demand that the project manager be appointed this evening at the political-security cabinet meeting and be given a toolkit to act. Netanyahu needs to know that what started with a farmer in the Hebron Hills will end up at the rime Minister's Residence."
