1.

The reopening of the Homesh yeshiva in northern Samaria is the first stage of a process of putting right the reckless uprooting of Jewish communities there in the summer of 2005. While there was some logic presented for the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Jewish communities in northern Samaria were demolished to signal the beginning of the end of Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria and the establishment of a Palestinian state. The outcome in the Gaza Strip was to be expected, at least by those who despite the promises that security would be better after the disengagement than when Jewish settlements thrived there, but nevertheless thought otherwise and were told they were the ones who were deluded.

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The uprooting from the Gaza Strip fulfilled the aspirations of Europe, parts of the United States, and some within Israel, for a retreat to the 1949 armistice lines before the Six-Day War. We even uprooted the bodies of the dead. Today, there is a terrorist entity there with a government, territory, a military, access to the sea, and a border with Egypt. Does Hamas exploit the resources for the improvement of the population's well-being? Absolutely not. An Islamist entity was established in Gaza, and it enforces a regime of terror worse than Iran. Gaza's meager resources are exploited for accumulating weapons and munitions and to make foolish threats against Israel, which cost human lives. Since the uprooting, Israel has engaged in numerous cycles of conflict with Gaza that have shut down the Israeli economy and life in the country for an accumulated period of several months. There has been significant damage to the Israeli economy and the security of its citizens, and the international remuneration the Israeli government thought it would receive for pulling out of Gaza has never materialized. Moreover, although we are no longer there, we are still accused of occupation.

2.

In Judea and Samaria, Israel does not control more than 90% of the Palestinian population. The Palestinians have a governing authority with broad autonomy; in the words of the late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, an "entity that is less than a state," which "manages independently the lives of the Palestinians living under its authority" with a budget and ministers, an independent economy and police, education system, and more. In many ways, the Oslo Accords, which transferred territories A and B to the Palestinians, ended the post-1967 Israeli occupation. The IDF is not present in Palestinian cities but is positioned on the outskirts to protect Israel from the development of a terrorist entity similar to the one that exists in Gaza and to safeguard the Palestinians from a hostile takeover by Hamas.

There is still the issue of Jerusalem and the areas of Judea and Samaria known as Territory C. Here we must learn from history and from the exigencies of our existence in the region: Israel cannot protect its existence without holding onto these lands. And indeed, all Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria are located there. This is also Rabin's legacy, as expressed in his final speech. Rabin created separation from the population but not the land. It is precisely in places where there is certain friction between Jews and Palestinians that relative calm exists. Compare Gaza to Hebron and Nablus. Three different cases from which interesting conclusions can be drawn.

3.

The uprooting of Jews from northern Samaria led to a severe deterioration of security. The PA lost control. In fact, it never really controlled the territory on its own but relied on Israel (which doesn't prevent the PA from spreading lies about us). In the absence of Jewish settlers, the army withdraws. The Menashe Brigade (which is responsible for that area), is the only unit that is not present on the ground in the same way as units in other parts of Samaria and Judea. And the results are clear.

An army is never a permanent presence; its stationing depends on a country's security needs. As Zionism has taught us, the only permanent element is that secure borders are the borders of the plough and settlement. To maintain our grip on the land, we need pioneers who live lives of labor and production. It is the army's job to follow them and secure their presence.

From Homesh, one can see the shore of Israel all the way from Hadera to Tel Aviv. Many times, when serving as ambassador to Italy, I would say that from the window of my house in the historical center of Rehovot, I can see Beit El and the mountains of Binyamin (as well as the Jerusalem Hills). A straight line to my east leads to Modi'in and beyond it Ramallah! "Do you really think we have learned nothing from our bloody history?" I would ask them, "Did you think we would abandon the heart of Israel to a terrorist entity that would control the hills overlooking the coastal plain and the lowlands? Everyone who flies into Israel can see that as it approaches Israel from the sea, their plane will continue eastward and make a U-turn over Samaria before landing. A Palestinian youth with a shoulder-fired missile is enough to shut down our airport. So what if we intercept it with "Iron Dome?"

4.

Would Ukraine have survived the war against Russia without its vast territorial depth? The notion that territorial depth is no longer essential in the age of missiles is one that is not grounded in reality. Think about the time one has to reach shelter in Sderot (15 seconds) compared to Tel Aviv (90 seconds).

In his book Breakthrough: A Personal Account of the Egypt-Israel Peace Negotiations, Moshe Dayan explained why settlements are necessary for security by stating that only if there were large Jewish settlement blocs, such as the Jordan Valley, Gush Etzion, and the hilltops of Samaria, would IDF units be able to be present in these areas, not as foreign occupiers but for the purpose of ensuring the peace of Israel, whose dense population is concentrated in a narrow strip along the Mediterranean coast. (Thanks to Brig. Gen (res.) Gershon Hacohen for the reference). Settlement in Judea and Samaria as well as in the Jordan Valley thus serves as a security buffer for Israel. The pioneers in these settlements put their lives on the line to prevent the transformation of the hills of Judea and Samaria into a second Gaza, a transformation that would make the lives of the residents of the central region hell.

5.

But we must not rely solely on security arguments. We must also talk about our rights. We are after all talking about territories of our ancient homeland which were seized by foreigners while we were in exile. Our right to live in Tel Aviv stems from our right to Samaria and Jerusalem, the cradle of the Bible, where we became an independent nation. One thing depends on the other.

Many times, I have tried to read Rashi from a political perspective. Why does the Torah begin with "In the beginning God created" and not with the mitzvot (commandments)? Rashi answers that Rabbi Yitzchak says, "Should the nations say, 'You are thieves, for you conquered the land of the seven nations!' we would reply, 'The entire world is G‑d's; He created it, and He gives it to whomever he desires. It was His desire to first give it to them, and by His desire it was taken from them and given to us'." Rashi wrote this a thousand years after the destruction of the Temple. The Land of Israel had already become a distant dream, and in the streets near Rashi's home, the First Crusade began and many Jews were killed and Jewish communities were destroyed. There, from the depths of exile, this genius foresaw that one day we would return to our land and then we would need this argument to counter the foreigners who had seized our homeland.

Back in 1968, Dr. Yaakov Herzog (the uncle of President Isaac Herzog), a former foreign ministry official and phenomenal orator, asked Why should the nations of the world accept this claim? His response: "The answer is that the problem lies in historical perception... If it is materialistic, then the claim 'you are thieves' holds; but if the perception is one of faith, the world will be forced to accept that the concept of providence derives from the House of Israel and the foundation of humanity derives from providence – and this concept cannot exist without the Land of Israel."

Herzog continued: "The fundamental issue is whether we continue the 'you are thieves' debate or embrace Jewish uniqueness... and then there is a chance that they will accept us as part of the Middle East." He then added an important comment, one that guided me as an ambassador: "It may seem very unpolitical and irrational. But I, who have been involved in policy for 20 years, am convinced today more than ever that this is the key." Indeed, there is no Zionism without Zion.

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The Education Ministry is planning to hold tours for schools and youth movements to the Homesh settlement, which has recently become permittable to visit for the first time in almost 20 years, Israel Hayom has learned. 

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If the plan comes to fruition, the tours will most likely require heavy security and perhaps even bulletproof buses, which will increase the costs involved. The financial aspect is only one of several expected to garner criticism, along with opposition from critics of the government's right-wing policies. 

The 2005 Gaza disengagement led to the evacuation and destruction of Homesh, as well as Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim in Samaria, and 21 communities in the Gaza Strip. In March, the Knesset repealed articles of the law banning Israelis from entering and being in the four Samaria communities, and in May GOC Central Command head Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs signed an order allowing Israelis to reenter Homesh.

The Education Ministry has so far refrained from granting permits to groups wishing to visit the area as security measures are yet to be set up but stressed that it planned to hold educational trips to Homesh in the future. 

"In light of the change in legislation, the Education Ministry intends to allow tours to be held in Homesh as are currently held in the other regions of Judea and Samaria," it said in a statement. "All trips by the Education Ministry throughout the country, and in Judea and Samaria in particular, are conditioned by the instructions of the police and the military, in order to allow for an appropriate security envelope. The Education Ministry is awaiting the IDF's instructions on the matter and will act accordingly."

Meanwhile, on Monday, the United States criticized Israel for moving the Homesh yeshiva to a permanent spot on state-owned land.

"We are deeply troubled by the Israeli government's recent order that allows its citizens to establish a permanent presence in the Homesh outpost in the northern West Bank," a State Department spokesperson said. "It is inconsistent with both former Prime Minister [Ariel] Sharon's written commitment to the Bush administration in 2004 and the current Israeli government's commitments to the Biden administration."

"The expansion of settlements undermines the geographic viability of a two-state solution, exacerbates tensions, and further harms trust between the parties," the spokesman said. "This is consistent with the views of previous administrations, both Democratic and Republican. We regularly engage with Israeli officials on this issue and will continue to do so."

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The Homesh yeshiva was relocated overnight Sunday to a new, permanent location, days after the IDF revoked a military order preventing Israelis from being in the area.

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Before dawn on Monday, yeshiva students and volunteers moved the school several hundred meters off of disputed land.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan marked the occasion by affixing a mezuzah to the entrance of the yeshiva's study hall.

"This is a historic moment, a step toward rectifying the terrible injustice of the expulsion from Samaria. We have been working day and night to rectify the injustice against not only those displaced, but the entire people of Israel," he said. "Two months ago, the Knesset correctly removed the Mark of Cain of the expulsion from Israeli laws. We will also reach Ganim, Kadim and Sa-Nur."

The 2005 Gaza disengagement led to the evacuation and destruction of Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim in Samaria, as well as 21 communities in the Gaza Strip. In March, the Knesset repealed articles of the 2005 law banning Israelis from entering and being in the four Samaria communities, and in May GOC Central Command head Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs signed an order allowing Israelis to reenter Homesh.

Yesha Council chief and Gush Etzion Regional Council Mayor Shlomo Neeman on Monday hailed the "emotional" move and praised the government.

"This is a historic and emotional morning for all the people of Israel. After almost 18 years since the terrible expulsion, this morning, the students of the yeshiva finally got to recite the blessing of the return [to the land of Israel]," said Neeman. "We thank Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for his firm stance on the side of justice, Yossi Dagan, who worked tirelessly throughout the years, and we congratulate the yeshiva students, their rabbis and the general public, who fought for the continuation of a Jewish presence in northern Samaria."

Washington 'deeply troubled'

The United States last week harshly criticized Jerusalem's decision to walk back the legislation barring Israelis from entering Homesh.

"We are deeply troubled by the Israeli government's order that allows its citizens to establish a permanent presence in the Homesh outpost in the northern West Bank, which according to Israeli law was illegally built on private Palestinian land," said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

"Advancing Israeli settlements in the West Bank is an obstacle to the achievement of a two-state solution," he added.

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IDF Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch told JNS earlier this month that the government's move was a "good start" but did not go far enough.

"The 2005 so-called Israeli 'disengagement' from Gaza and parts of northern Samaria played into the territorial aspirations of the Palestinian Authority – to create ever-increasing Arab-dominated territories that are entirely 'Judenfrei,'" said Hirsch, who served for 20 years in the IDF Military Advocate General's Corps.

"Revoking the Israeli legislation that facilitated this fundamentally racist practice is a good start, but it is not sufficient. This government should make all the preparations necessary not only to repeal racist laws but to also ensure the application of Israeli law throughout Judea and Samaria. Israel holds the sole sovereign title to these areas, and the full incorporation of these areas into Israel is now 56 years late," he added.

  Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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The Biden administration rebuked Israel on Sunday over an order that allows Jewish presence in Homesh, a former settlement that was removed as part of the 2005 Disengagement Plan in northern Samaria. The criticism follows a similar condemnation from the US after Israel Hayom reported on the planned move several days ago.

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The IDF GOC Central Command signed an order on Thursday that allows Israelis to enter the Homesh outpost area, paving the way for a formal settlement to be built there. The State Department has repeatedly called on Israel to refrain from any moves that escalate tensions with Palestinians, like formalizing settler outposts, and specifically warned it over Homesh.

"We are deeply troubled by the Israeli government's order that allows its citizens to establish a permanent presence in the Homesh outpost in the northern West Bank, which according to Israeli law was illegally built on private Palestinian land," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

The order is inconsistent with Israeli government commitments made in 2004 and more recently to Biden administration officials, Miller said. Israel's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the order in question was intended to allow Israelis to keep attending an existing yeshiva in Homesh, and that the government has no intention of rebuilding the settlement or allowing Israeli presence on private Palestinian land.

The reproach by the US comes after months of escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians that have tested ties between Washington and its main ally in the Middle East.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from the far-Right Otzma Yehudit party, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, sacred to both Muslims and Jews, who know it as Temple Mount, and declared Israel was "in charge." Miller said Washington was also concerned about the "provocative visit" and "accompanying inflammatory rhetoric."

"This holy space should not be used for political purposes, and we call on all parties to respect its sanctity," he said, also reaffirming the U.S. position that the status quo should be maintained at Jerusalem's holy sites.

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An Israel Hayom report on Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's move to implement that controversial law that allows the presence of Israelis on the site of the uprooted settlement of Homesh drew condemnation from the US on Thursday.

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"The United States strongly urges Israel to refrain from allowing the return of Israeli settlers to the area covered by the legislation passed in March, consistent with both former PM [Ariel] Sharon's and the current Israeli government's commitments to the United States," the US Embassy in Israel said in response to a query by Israel Hayom. "We have been clear that advancing settlements is an obstacle to peace and the achievement of a two-state solution. This certainly includes creating new settlements, building or legalizing outposts, or allowing building of any kind on private Palestinian land or deep in the West Bank adjacent to Palestinian communities," the embassy added.

Entry to Homesh, as well as three other former settlements in northern Samaria, was previously illegal under the 2005 Gaza Disengagement Law, which was repealed by the Knesset in mid-March. However, Israelis have returned occasionally, and a new yeshiva was established in the area.

This week, Gallant essentially put in motion the process that will make the repeal of the law and its restrictions final. As Israel Hayom reported Thursday, Gallant has instructed the IDF GOC Central Command Yehuda Fuchs to sign a decree that will make it legal for Israelis to set foot there, although this was not akin to having the settlement re-established, as this would require more administrative measures.

In its condemnation on Thursday, the US reiterated its strong rebuke of the repeal of the law that was passed. "As we said in March, the United States is deeply troubled by efforts to rescind important parts of the 2005 disengagement law, including the prohibition on establishing settlements in the northern West Bank. At least one of the outposts in this area, Homesh, was illegally built on private Palestinian land," it said.

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Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has instructed the IDF GOC Central Command Yehuda Fuchs to sign a decree that could allow Jewish residency in the former settlement of Homesh in northern Samaria thus fully implementing a controversial measure to lift the restrictions under the 2005 Gaza Disengagement Law, Israel Hayom has learned.

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Entry to Homesh, as well as three other former settlements in northern Samaria, was previously illegal under the 2005 Gaza Disengagement Law, which was repealed by the Knesset in mid-March.

Gallant's decision is one of major security and political significance that has prompted the IDF to prepare for boosting forces in Homesh and mobilizing forces to protect civilians who will now be legally allowed to visit the area after almost 20 years. The matter is expected to lead to further tensions with the Biden administration, which already in March criticized Israel for repealing the disengagement law.

Together with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Gallant area also considering a measure that would give official legal status to the yeshiva that was recently established in the former community without state sanction. The yeshiva currently sits on contested land, but it could get a stamp of approval if a plan to relocate it to a plot of state land nearby is finalized.

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Meretz MK Yair Golan apologized Thursday for calling the settlers of Homesh outpost in Judea and Samaria "subhuman."

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In an interview with Channel 12 News, Golan said, "I regret the remark, which may have included a problematic wording [as it was said] in an emotional state and out of anger."

Golan's comments against the residents of the illegal settlement sparked outrage from across the political spectrum, with right-wing lawmakers calling for his dismissal and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett saying the remark "bordered on a blood libel."

Nevertheless, despite apologizing for the wording, Golan, who is deputy economy minister, stood by his criticism of Homesh residents. 

"The problem isn't my remarks, but that there is a gang that systematically and consistently harms innocent people and IDF soldiers," he said. "Perhaps one can say they are 'despicable thugs.'

"This is the bitter truth, even if [people] don't like to hear it."

Golan is not the first lawmaker to have sparked furor with remarks concerning Homesh. 

In December, Public Security Minister Omer Barlev was lambasted by bereaved families and right-wing lawmakers for discussing perceived settler violence against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

Shortly after, Homesh resident Yehuda Dimantman was killed by Palestinian terrorists, which far-right-wing MKs said was the result of incitement by Barlev.

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Right-wing lawmakers expressed outrage on Friday after security forces demolished several buildings and evacuated the local yeshiva in the Homesh outpost in Samaria just hours after a memorial service was held in honor of resident Yehuda Dimantman, who was murdered last week in a terrorist shooting attack. 

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The Religious Zionist Party said in a statement, "The tens of thousands of Jews who went up to Homesh ... expressed the values of devotion and belief in the righteousness of the path. In contrast, [Prime Minister Naftali] Bennett, [Interior Minister Ayelet] Shaked, [Yamina MK Nir] Orbach, [Religious Services Minister Matan] Kahana, and their associates expressed the complete opposite: the loss of values, selfishness, deceit, and falsehood.

"They understand that the energies of the devoted public who went up to Homesh and with them the public that believes – traditional, Orthodox, secular – can overthrow the government they formed with the extreme Left and terrorism-supporting Arabs."

Video: Homesh yeshiva

"Like [former Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon did in his time, so too Bennett and Shaked switched sides. They will do everything, and we mean everything, to protect their seats. Including destroying settlements in Israel. The destruction is meant to weaken and hurt, but we will persevere."

Otzma Yehudit head Itamar Ben-Gvir said, "Bennett rewarded the murderer and deceived the family that mourned with the entire people of Israel. The demolition in Homesh is a sign of victory for the murdered, who make a V sign with their hand and go to jail with a sense of triumph. What is worse is that Bennett had promised the bereaved families he would work against the demolition of Homesh. If Bennett is unable to prevent the demolition, then he does not deserve to be prime minister for even one minute."

Echoing similar sentiment, the Samaria Regional Council said, "This morning's destruction gives a boost to terrorists who want to harm us. We demand that the government not give in to this disgrace and immediately change its policy."

The Homesh yeshiva said, "A price to terrorism. There are no words. Unfortunately, we see that the Israeli government decided following the terrorist attack in which Yehudah Dimantman was killed to demolish the yeshiva in Homesh. The terrorists achieved their goal through a contractor – the Israeli government."

Earlier in the day, MK Ram Ben Barak, who chairs the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, told Army Radio, "There is a large group in Homesh who exert pressure and want to legitimize illegal actions – I find it unacceptable. If the government decided that there will be no settlement there, then there won't be a settlement there."

On Monday, Dimantman's widow, Ettya, sent a letter to Bennett urging that Homesh not be demolished. 

"Don't complete what the terrorists didn't, don't destroy what we have built at Homesh," she implored. "Don't kill my life's work, that of Yehuda and our friends at Homesh."

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