Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich delivered a forceful speech Thursday night at the Jerusalem Day rally at Mercaz HaRav yeshiva, calling for the abolition of the political divisions in Judea and Samaria. “The time has come to finally erase the lines separating Areas A, B, and C,” Smotrich declared. He revealed that he had placed a detailed plan on the matter before the cabinet this week and called on the Prime Minister to adopt it, emphasizing, “All of the Land of Israel is ours.”
In his speech, Smotrich detailed the government’s achievements in Judea and Samaria communities. “We regularized all the young communities and approved more than a hundred new ones,” he said. He noted that 60,000 housing units have been approved over the past three years, and emphasized the historic correction of returning to northern Samaria towns evacuated during the disengagement: “We returned to Homesh, to Sa-Nur, to Ganim and Kadim. The people of Israel are coming home, and this time forever.”
The minister also addressed the ongoing war, saying that despite the heavy costs, there are major achievements on all fronts. He cited the elimination of top terror leaders Sinwar, Haniyeh, and Nasrallah, and referenced legislation to prosecute Nukhba terrorists that will ensure, he said, “that soon they too will reach hell.” He added that Israel’s economy is showing tremendous resilience, with the shekel strengthening and the stock exchange breaking records, as a fulfillment of the prophets’ visions.
Smotrich concluded his remarks with a reference to the teachings of Rabbi Kook, which he defined as “the spiritual engine of our entire national revival project.” He emphasized the importance of the physical building of the land as part of the manifestation of the Divine Presence in Zion. “Tonight we celebrate the miracle, and tomorrow we continue with the work, with building and planting,” the minister concluded to the crowd’s applause.