I have also decided to establish a ministerial committee on settlement to
ensure that the Government's policy of strengthening settlement is
implemented.
PM Netanyahu's Remarks on the Issue of the Ulpana Neighborhood in Beit El
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks today (Wednesday,
6 June 2012) the Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El:
"We are not strangers in Beit El. We are not strangers in Judea and Samaria.
This is the Land of our Patriarchs. This is where our identity was formed. I
say this here in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and I say this everywhere
in the world. Israel is a democratic state in which upholding the law is at
the foundation of our free lives. The State of Israel is a law-abiding
democracy and as the Prime Minister of Israel I am committed to upholding
the law and am I committed to uphold the settlement enterprise, and I tell
you that there is no contradiction between the two. The draft law that was
rejected today in the Knesset would have hurt settlement whereas the outline
that I have decided upon – the expansion of the community, moving the homes
and legal defense against any precedent – strengthens settlement.
And yet it must be said that this has been a complicated and difficult day.
Moving homes from their location, even if it is only five homes, is
certainly not an action that this Government rejoices in doing. But the
court ruled as it did and we honor the decisions of the judicial system.
At the same time, the community of Beit El will be expanded. The 30 families
will remain in Beit El and will be joined by 300 new families. I tell those
who think they can use the judicial system to hurt settlement, that they are
mistaken, because in practice, the exact opposite will occur. Instead of
shrinking Beit El – Beit El has expanded. Instead of hurting settlement,
settlement has been strengthened.
I also received a clear legal opinion which I would like to cite. 'The
verdict set no law and in any case does not constitute a precedent. Nothing
may be construed from it regarding other cases.'
I have also decided to establish a ministerial committee on settlement to
ensure that the Government's policy of strengthening settlement is
implemented.
I would like to thank my ministerial colleagues for showing responsibility
at a difficult time. Yuli Edelstein and Daniel Hershkowitz spoke to me at
length about the importance and necessity of establishing the ministerial
committee. Benny Begin and Moshe Yaalon invested considerable time in the
work of the ministerial team to strengthen settlement. Gideon Saar and Gilad
Erdan certainly lost much sleep in recent days in the discussions to find a
legal outline that would forestall a precedent. I would also like to thank
my colleagues, my partners, the heads of the coalition factions, Shaul
Mofaz, Eli Yishai, Ehud Barak, Yaakov Litzman and Moshe Gafni. I would also
like to thank Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman for acting responsibly.
There is responsible leadership in Israel.
In conclusion, I would like to say a few words to my brothers and sisters
from the settler public. I met several of the families. I saw the people. I
saw the children and I would like to tell you what I told them. There is no
government that supports, or will support, settlement more than my
government. I also say that there is no government that has withstood such
heavy pressures, which could have hurt settlement, and it must be understood
that ours is a very complex diplomatic, national and legal environment. And
in this complex reality, one must navigate wisely, sagaciously and
responsibly. Thus the members of the Government and myself have acted up
until now and thus we will continue to act. We will continue to strengthen
settlement and we will continue to strengthen democracy in the State of
Israel."
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