If there is anything that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the heads of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria have learned since visiting Washington in January, is that extending Israeli sovereignty in the area cannot happen at a moment's notice.
The elation over US President Donald Trump "deal of the century" and the belief that the sovereignty bid could be applied rather immediately was soon replaced with controversy over the move's implementation, with July 1 named as the target date.
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But we are now talking about the day after tomorrow and Netanyahu has yet to present the final map of the areas included in the sovereignty bid. The information we are getting is based on rumors and leaks to the media – nothing is substantial.
Mr. Prime Minister, it is time to show us the maps. We played along so far – there is no reason we won't continue to do so. We are this move's biggest proponents. We support Netanyahu and we support Trump – a true friend of the State of Israel. But not at any cost. We don't want a blind barging.
Where is the map? What does it look like? Which settlements are compromised? When critical roads are blocked off, tusk preventing us from sustaining normal life? What price will we have to pay?
How can we support or oppose something whose nature eludes us? The uncertainty we face is far more stressful than anything we can learn about this plan, and if there is one thing everyone agrees on in the controversy surrounding the sovereignty bid, it is that no one is really sure what we're arguing about.
The media made it seem like the mayors of the communities in Judea and Samaria are divided into those who support the move and those who oppose it. I vehemently object to that – no one among us opposes the sovereignty bid. Is there really anyone out there who believes the settler leader would oppose a move we have been praying for – for decades?
The mayors who "oppose" the bid are thinking only of what is best for the settlement enterprise. They fear for what may befall communities slated to become "enclaves" in dangerous territory. It is this fear that will not allow us, in good conscience, to support a vague idea. This is not what we longed for, nor is it what we praised after our trip to Washington.
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The heads of the communities in Judea and Samaria trust Netanyahu. We wholeheartedly believe that he only has the good of the settlement enterprise at heart. But after years of having the sword of expulsion hanging over our heads, we are acutely aware of the dangers lurking around the corner.
All we want to do is make sure we are not on the brink of a slippery and dangerous slope. Let's work together, Mr. Prime Minister. Time is running out – show us the map.
