Settler group demands legalization of illegal outposts
A settler group in Israel is calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the leaders of the Religious Zionism and Jewish Power parties, to legalize certain community outposts which had been built in Judea and Samaria without government approval.
The move to legalize the outposts would be problematic even for the new right-wing government, as the settlements were established without authorization.
The issue of the “young settlements” – used to describe illegal settlements – has been a difficult issue for previous governments, including those led by Netanyahu.
The group, called the Young Settlement Forum, called on several ministers to legalize the outposts before the government vote on the matter, which is expected to come within 60 days of the government’s establishment.
Without government approval, the settlements will not be connected to the country’s water, electricity or other infrastructure.
The Young Settlement Forum called specifically on Netanyahu and Ministers Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Orit Strock and Yitzhak Wasserlauf to immediately “approve the regulation and enable the new settlements to be connected to electricity, water and other infrastructures.”
The group made posters with each minister’s name and picture, asking, “Is this the last winter in which we will freeze from the cold? … The decision relies only on you!”
The freeze on settlements in Judea and Samaria was instituted under Netanyahu 15 years ago, under increasing pressure from the United States and Europe.
Now, with Israel having a more right-wing government than in the past, many in the settler community hope the needs of the young settlements will be tackled and that the nation will return to a policy of settlement building.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
