Judea and Samaria leaders hail Trump, eye sovereignty push
Donald Trump's victory on Nov. 5 was widely welcomed in the area's Jewish communities.
A view of Efrat's Dagan (foreground) and Tamar (background) neighborhoods, near Bethlehem in Judea and Samaria, Nov. 10, 2020. Credit: Gershon Elinson/Flash90.
Leaders and activists across the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria were nearly unanimous in their response to the outcome of the U.S. presidential election: the defeat of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by Republican contender Donald Trump.
Israel Ganz—head of the Binyamin Regional Council and Yesha Council chairman—celebrated with his staff by taking part in a festive toast at the Psagot Winery, as it launched a new special edition of “Trump” wine.
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A new special edition of “Trump” wine launched by the Psagot Winery, Nov. 7, 2024. Photo: Courtesy/Psagot Winery.
“Trump’s victory is a great opportunity for the United States, Israel and the global community towards stability and eradication of the axis of evil that threatens the countries of the free world,” Ganz told JNS. ”The key is to radically change the policy of the previous administration in relation to Judea and Samaria; remove the sanctions [on Jews]; and apply Israeli sovereignty to this area, which is both geographically, strategically and biblically the essence of the land of Israel.”
Ganz added that Trump’s win “will send a message of moral clarity to the world and a message to Iran and the entire axis of evil that it is no longer possible to destroy the State of Israel or place it within narrow, indefensible borders.”
Yaakov Berg, CEO and owner of the Psagot Winery, stated: “Especially in these complex days when the State of Israel is still fighting its enemies and losing its finest sons, we thought it was fitting to celebrate the victory of a true friend and lover of Israel, President Trump. We all pray that his victory will bring closer our complete victory over our enemies and the swift return of our sons and daughters to their homes.”
Attorney Marc Zell, a resident of Tekoa in Gush Etzion who serves as chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel, told JNS, “In the previous Trump administration, the secretary of state [Mike Pompeo] stated unequivocally that Jewish presence, settlement and development in Judea and Samaria is both legal and appropriate. The Harris-Biden-Obama administration rescinded this policy and reverted to the Obama-Biden administration policy, which treated Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria as an obstacle to peace and ‘illegitimate.’ This will likely change dramatically during the coming Trump administration—for the better.”
Zell explained, “This will mean that Jewish settlements will no longer be out of bounds for U.S. government officials and CODELS [Congressional Member Delegations], among other things. Also, the second Trump administration will not put pressure on the Israeli government to restrict the expansion or establishment of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.”
Zell also said he believes that the new administration “will likely repeal Biden’s Executive Order 14115 of Feb.1, 2024 which empowers the president to impose sanctions on foreign persons, including dual U.S.-Israeli nationals, who actively oppose the administration’s two-state-solution policy in Judea and Samaria.”
Zell and a group of attorneys have initiated litigation in a Texas federal court, seeking an injunction prohibiting the administration from involving the executive order.
However, he said, “That litigation will likely become moot once Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2025.”
Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, told JNS, “I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as president of the United States and wish him success in his position. President Trump proved during his previous term that he is a true friend of the State of Israel and of the communities in Judea and Samaria, and we hope that he will again continue the support and recognition of our right to the land of Israel.”
Dagan added, “The time has come to deepen support for Judea and Samaria, expand construction and pave the way towards a vision of full sovereignty. However, the ball is always in Jerusalem’s proverbial court. Our expectations and demands are directed solely at Israel’s prime minister, who has the duty and prerogative to build this country. I’m sure it will be much easier with such a supportive administration in the United States.”
Jewish Community of Hebron Director of International Affairs Yishai Fleisher told JNS, “The Trump victory will have an impact on the progress of Jewish life in Judea and Samaria, as well as in ancient cities like Hebron. This sends a signal to jihadists that they will once again be demonetized and that their path will not lead to success. It also sends a signal to the Jewish state that that our rights in the heartland will be recognized.”
Fleisher added, “The long efforts to resettle the ancestral homeland have made it clear that Jews intend to live here forever. However, the so-called Palestinian movement has eroded the clarity of Jewish rights in this land. Therefore, when Palestinianism is demoted, demonetized and exposed for the jihadist front that it is, Jewish rights can be reaffirmed.”
He went on: “The Trump administration must also recognize that the fight against global progressivism and global jihadism is at its doorstep on American campuses. It must strive to reclaim the minds of the next generation from Iranian, Chinese, Russian and Palestinian manipulation techniques that have infected these campuses. There is much to be done in the next four years, and we thank God for this opportunity. We are preparing ourselves for the challenge of engaging in many efforts to make the world a better place.”
The Sovereignty Movement, led by Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katsover, expressed equal satisfaction. A statement it released read, in part: “The Sovereignty Movement congratulates the American people on their election of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States in light of his blessed standing alongside Israel and his achievements and blessed actions on behalf of Israel in the past: moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and his recent statements that the two-state solution would lead only to bloodshed.
“This election expresses the American nation’s positioning itself on the right side of history, the axis of good, standing resolutely and courageously against the axis of evil and standing with the State of Israel.
“The Sovereignty Movement wishes the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump, that in his new term he will be privileged to spearhead among the nations the necessary, just and historic recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over its land in its entirety.”
Ari Abramowitz, activist, podcaster and co-founder of the Arugot Farms in eastern Gush Etzion, told JNS about his reservations.
“I’m happy about Trump’s victory; very happy,” he said. “In some ways, my concern is exactly how happy I am. I say this is because one of our greatest vulnerabilities here in Israel is not our enemies; it’s our friends.
He explained, “Ultimately, it’s up to us to determine if we will take advantage of the new administration to charter a new, healthy, mutually respectful relationship with a friend and ally, or whether we will allow ourselves to fall, yet again, into an unhealthy, codependent relationship.”
He concluded: “There’s no question that Trump’s presidency has the potential to be a tremendous blessing for Judea, Samaria and all of Israel. We won’t be facing imminent arbitrary unjust sanctions; nor will we be imminently threatened with the unilateral establishment of an independent Palestinian terror state in our heartland. I just hope that we’ve learned our lesson as a nation, and we engage the new administration with a clear understanding not only of their value to us, but even more so, our value to them.”
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