The night Netanyahu's cabinet decided to freeze building in Judea and Samaria, the Initiative sent out the following press release:

Tonight's cabinet decision to freeze building in Judea and Samaria for ten months is a strategic mistake, that will delay peace rather than bring it sooner, says "The Israeli Initiative," the only political plan that offers an alternative to the two-state solution.

"The peace process is stuck for deep-seated, fundamental reasons," said Yoav Sorek, the Initiative's manager. "The attempt to revive it through a building freeze is futile. Anyone who finds value in this decision is misunderstanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ways to solve it."

According to Sorek, "attempts to end the conflict with a Palestinian 'partner' haven proven to be failures time and again. This strategy only nurtures Palestinian Nationalism, which is the problem, not the solution, instead of dealing with a real solution for all of the problems, such as the refugees and the anarchy in Judea and Samaria."

"The less sovereignty Israel exercises in Judea and Samaria, the stronger negative arguments will grow. Peace will only be further away," explained Sorek.

Sorek, a member of the Likud Central Committee, said that The Israel Initiative's ideas are gaining popularity in the governing party. "There are many Knesset members from the Likud who agree with us," he explained, "and Prime Minister Netanyahu has used parts of our plan in his speeches, expressing his support for it. Unfortunately, as Prime Minister, he chose to play the 'two-state' game, even though it seems that he does not believe in it."

As readers of our updates may remember, The Israeli Initiative is promoting the passage of a bill allowing for the State of Israel to expand its full sovereignty over Israeli municipalities in Judea and Samaria.

If the bill had passed Knesset, we would not have to undergo American pressure for a settlement freeze. The Israeli government cannot disturb civilian building once it is approved in the planning committees. It does so in Judea and Samaria only because these areas are considered under "military control" rather than general Israeli law. This bill will help Israel in the international arena, as it will clarify that Israel sees itself as having legitimate rights to the land in Judea and Samaria, and that it is not (only) an occupying entity.

Many Likud members have rallied against the decision to freeze settlements, which Netanyahu managed to pass without opposition that would be expected from those who oppose a two-state solution, such as Moshe (Bogie) Yaalon and Benny Begin.

The right is beginning to notice The Israeli Initiative. A dynamic group of right-wing activists recently began to study the Initiative, which we see as a positive development. Don't be surprised if in the next few weeks you hear the Initiative's ideas not only in this newsletter, but from additional sources in Israeli politics.


As always, I'm happy to hear your reactions and comments,

Yoav Sorek
Manager, The Israeli Initiative
www.Israelinitiative.com