During an exclusive interview Tuesday evening on “The Patriots” program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked about Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip. Panel members questioned whether he plans to advance the re-establishment of Jewish communities in the Strip, following Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s statements that staff work is underway on the issue.
Tonight, host Yinon Magal challenged the prime minister, pointing out that Netanyahu had previously said such a move would be unrealistic. This time, Netanyahu didn’t rule out the possibility, but chose not to answer directly. “The question is whether you prefer to do or to talk? And yes, I prefer not to comment,” he said. His response drew reactions from supporters of renewed settlement.
1+Knesset Member Zvi Sukkot, chairman of the Caucus for Jewish Settlement in the Gaza Region, issued a statement of support following the interview and called on the government to advance the move in practice. Sukkot wrote: “Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has led in practice to the establishment of the largest number of communities in Israel in the last 50 years. As chairman of the ‘Caucus for Renewed Settlement in the Gaza Region’ in the Knesset, I am confident that the staff work to establish settlements in the northern Strip will become a reality in practice. We will continue to advance the return and settlement until we correct the historical injustice of the disengagement.”
Sukkot added: “We see in Judea and Samaria how settlement strengthens security. In the Middle East they only understand territorial control, and absolute victory will come when the people of Israel settle in all parts of the land that belong to it. I call on the prime minister to correct the historical injustice of the disengagement and advance Jewish settlement in the Gaza Region in practice.”
1+Knesset Member Avichai Boaron said: “Where we are not, the worst of our enemies will be. I support the prime minister who is leading a real revolution in Israel’s security and national conception. We are in the midst of a real revolution. Settlement=Security. We will return to our homeland regions and ensure the eternity of Israel.”
During the interview, Netanyahu presented the war’s objectives, including the return of hostages, removal of the military threat from the Gaza Strip, and dismantling Hamas rule, but on the Gaza settlement issue he chose not to reveal his next move.