Applying Israeli sovereignty to the West Bank territories is the heart’s wish of most of the settlers living in these territories - but as it turns out, it still too early for festivities.
The annexation, which was planned to get underway on July 1, is provoking fierce opposition among the residents of the 19 communities that under U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan will remain isolated and surrounded by a theoretical Palestinian state.
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Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu stands by U.S. President Donald Trump as he unveils the U.S. Mideast peace plan at the White House in January
(Photo: AP)
The issue of Israeli enclaves amidst Palestinian land is one of the most burning issues among the settler leadership, which argues that cutting off these communities and leaving just a narrow access road will jeopardize both the people living there and Israel.
Additionally, the leader of the settlers warn, the possibility of those communities ceasing to develop or outright ceasing to exist is very much a reality.
The settlements that will become enclaves in a Palestinian state are home to more than 20,000 people and include Hermesh, Mevo Dotan, Elon Moreh, Itamar, Brakha, Yitzhar, Ateret, Carmei Tzur, Otniel and Mevo'ot Yericho.
"According to the plan, all the region around my settlement will be be turned over to the Palestinian Authority," says Yehuda Weld, a resident of Carmei Tzur.
"In this situation, the settlement will have no developmental future. It will actually become a kind of ghetto within the Palestinian state.”
Shoshi Tsubari, a longtime resident of Ateret, fears for the moment she will have to pass through Palestinian land to get to work.
"I have been working in the area for the past 25 years, going to work via the road that connects Ateret to Highway 60,” says Tsubari.
“Suddenly I discovered on the maps that the area is designated for a Palestinian state."
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Ateret resident Shoshi Tsubari stands at the entrance to the settlement
(Photo: Ynet)
"It's a harsh feeling accompanied by insecurity,” she says. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no Jew would be evacuated, but his move to create enclaves is a quiet evacuation and death sentence for our communities."
Reut Zimmerman, who lives in the settlement of Negohot, shares Tzubari’s sentiment.
"Trump’s plan has turned out to be exceedingly dangerous for our settlements," she says. "Such a plan grounds and strangles us, and we hope it will be shelved."
Yisrael Gantz, the head of Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, says Trump’s self-styled "deal of the century" poses a real risk to the State of Israel.
“Such a situation of blatant disrespect for Jewish settlements is simply giving up on sovereignty,” he says.
Gantz claims that until recently, Netanyahu shared his plans with the heads of settlements.
“Now though, he chooses to act differently, which is a worrying sign," he says.
"If we do not see change, we will have no choice but to oppose the plan and fight it. I expect the prime minister to bring historic justice to Israeli sovereignty in the heart of the country."