Internal government pressure is mounting as senior Likud ministers rally behind a sweeping sovereignty plan—covering 82% of Judea and Samaria—in a direct counter to UN moves for Palestinian statehood.
Momentum is building inside Israel’s government for a broad sovereignty initiative in Judea and Samaria, with senior Likud ministers voicing support for extending Israeli law far beyond settlement blocs.
For the first time, Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly endorsed the plan, joining Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and the Yesha Council, who last week presented their vision of sovereignty over 82% of Judea and Samaria.
A Push Against UN Recognition of Palestine
The timing is strategic. The French are advancing a UN initiative to recognize a Palestinian state, with New York discussions expected in the coming weeks. Likud ministers see sovereignty as a direct counter-move, reinforcing Israel’s claim to the territory before international recognition of Palestinian independence gains traction.
Widening Support in Likud
The Yesha Council reported that a growing roster of ministers has endorsed the sovereignty map, including:
- Eli Cohen
- Miki Zohar
- Gila Gamliel
- Miri Regev
- Shlomo Karhi
- Yoav Kisch
- Idit Silman
- May Golan
- Ze’ev Elkin
Meanwhile, Haim Katz and Yariv Levin signaled support for an even broader application of sovereignty than what the Yesha Council proposed.
Five Core Principles
The ministers stressed that their backing is not just about borders, but also about doctrinal principles to guide future policy:
- Preventing a Palestinian state – reflecting what they argue is a broad Israeli consensus.
- Maximizing Israeli territory while minimizing the number of Arabs under Israeli jurisdiction.
- Rejecting the Oslo Accords, calling them a failed framework.
- Opposing partial sovereignty limited to settlement blocs.
- Ending submission to threats, vowing to resist any terrorist retaliation.
Strategic Shift
What began as a limited sovereignty debate over settlement blocs is now transforming into a full-throated push for control of Judea and Samaria. With diplomatic battles looming at the UN, Likud ministers are signaling that sovereignty is no longer a fringe idea—but a central pillar of Israel’s political defense strategy.
