U.S. Opposes Transfer of Powers to Smotrich in Yehuda and Shomron

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM — The Biden administration has warned the Israeli government that it would consider any transfer of civilian authorities in Yehuda and Shomron to right-wing leader Bezalel Smotrich as a step toward annexation, Axios reported on Thursday, citing two Israeli and U.S. officials as sources.

Smotrich, head of the Religious Zionist party, currently serves as finance minister, and according to the coalition agreement has been given charge of COGAT, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, the military body which controls civilian administration in Yehuda and Shomron. COGAT oversees housing construction, legalizing outposts and approving demolitions of illegal Palestinian buildings.

As such, he is in a position to bolster the Jewish presence in the region, in particular extending the rights and protections of Israeli law to Jewish residents. This runs counter to U.S. policy, which seeks to discourage unilateral actions that might undermine chances for a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians.

Barbara Leaf, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near East Affairs, met with national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and other senior Israeli officials in Yerushalayim last week when she conveyed the White House concerns about the changes Smotrich might make.

Leaf told them that the transfer of authority will be considered by the Biden administration as a step towards annexation by the Israeli government, and its strongly objects, the officials told Axios.

Smotrich’s ability to change policy in Yehuda and Shomron is being contested by Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who has so far refused to relinquish his control over affairs in the region. Smotrich, for his part, wields considerable leverage, both because of his control of the budget and his power to break up the coalition if prior agreements are not met.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is in a difficult situation, pressed by Smotrich on one side, and Washington on the other, with his government in the balance. He‏‏ has been trying to mediate a compromise between the two, but several meetings have not yielded a solution.

The Prime Minister’s office refused to comment on the matter.

A senior official in the Israeli government was quoted by Arutz Sheva on Thursday as saying: “It is unthinkable that the U.S. interferes in the division of powers of the Israeli government. After decades in which the [residents of Yehuda and Shomron] live under a military regime, the time has come to provide equal citizenship and proper services to them as well. There are coalition agreements and all the party leaders will insist that they be fulfilled and so it will be.”