Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his intention to assert Israel’s sovereignty over all Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
During a speech in the north-western Samarian hill settlement of Elkana, Netanyahu told those gathered, “This is our and land. We will build another Elkana, and another Elkana, and another Elkana – we will not uproot anyone here.”
The Israeli leader then asked, ” Are there here children from Gush Katif, is there?” – referring to residents who were forcibly withdrawn from their homes in Gaza-periphery communities that were evacuated during Israel’s 2005 disengagement from what has today become the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave.
Emphasizing that Jerusalem will never force the displacement of additional settlements, Netanyahu said, “There will not be many other cases like Gush Katif, there will not be displacement and with God’s help we will extend Jewish sovereignty to all the settlements as part of the Land of Israel, as part of the State of Israel.”
All of the Israeli leader’s statements were expressed during his campaign for the last national elections in April. Similar to his previous pledge, the Prime minister did not provide any concrete time frame.
Israel’s next elections will be held September 17.