Sovereignty Movement heads ask Yankelevich, Blue and White for support

The discussion with Yankelevich "reflects the ever growing Israeli consensus surrounding the application of sovereignty in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley," the Sovereignty Movement said.

AUGUST 6, 2020 22:56

Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevich (center-right) is seen meeting with the heads of the Sovereignty Movement and Bitchonistim Movement. (photo credit: Courtesy) — Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevich (center-right) is seen meeting with the heads of the Sovereignty Movement and Bitchonistim Movement.

(photo credit: Courtesy)

Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevich met with the heads of the Sovereignty Movement, who asked that she and her party, Blue and White, support the application of sovereignty over the West Bank, the Sovereignty Movement announced in a statement.

The meeting, which consisted of Sovereignty Movement heads Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar, as well as Bitchonistim Movement secretary-general Brig.-Gen. Amir Avivi, a number of other Zionist issues were also discussed with the minister, such as aliyah and security. The goal of this was to ensure that these issues were not neglected during the coronavirus pandemic.

Yankelevich seemed to show a positive attitude toward the subject, and said she was willing to include Hebron in her itinerary and conduct another visit to Gush Etzion.

The discussion with Yankelevich "reflects the ever growing Israeli consensus surrounding the application of sovereignty in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley," the Sovereignty Movement said in a statement.

"The consensus surrounding this vision is garnering more and more communities calling upon the prime minister to honor his pre-election commitments, and to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria without making it contingent on establishment of an Arab state in Israel’s heartland.”

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post regarding her stance on the application of sovereignty, Yankelevich's spokesperson reaffirmed the minister's remarks following Tuesday's meeting with Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan.

"[The land of] Judea and Samaria is the land of our forefathers," Yankelevich said.

"Some speak about these places in terms of benefit and loss. I always remind them that this is our country, and we shouldn't be ashamed to say it. This place is also important and significant from a strategic standpoint. The settlers are the real pioneers, and that's how we should treat them."

She added that "Applying sovereignty in Judea and Samaria should eventually be our goal, under the right circumstances. These days also present us with a painful reminder. Fifteen years ago, we learned the hard way that evacuating settlements causes terrorism and not peace," she said in reference to the Gaza Disengagement that saw Jewish settlers removed from the Gaza Strip. "Today, nearly everyone understands that."

The subject of sovereignty and annexation became a hot button issue in Israel and abroad over the summer, especially leading up to the July 1 deadline when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could bring the subject before the Knesset. Sovereignty would have been applied to 30% of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, in accordance with the peace plan created by US President Donald Trump.

Stay updated with the latest news!

Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter

Subscribe Now

However, many on both the Left and Right oppose the move, the latter because it is contingent upon the establishment of a Palestinian state in the rest of the West Bank, as outlined in the Trump peace plan.

The Palestinian Authority has rejected the plan, as well as any application of Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank.

Tobias Siegal contributed to this report.