New Samaria Regional Council head Dagan asks Netanyahu for more settlement building

“It is the essence of Zionism to make the desert bloom in all parts of the Land of Israel," Dagan said.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Updated: AUGUST 6, 2015 00:49
yossi dagan (photo credit: SAMARIA REGIONAL COUNCIL)
yossi dagan
(photo credit: SAMARIA REGIONAL COUNCIL)
Newly elected Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve more settlement building.
According to Dagan’s office, Netanyahu called to congratulate him on his victory in Tuesday’s election.
Dagan told Netanyahu he dreams of creating a new settlement in Samaria and asked the prime minister to help him fulfill that vision.
“It is the essence of Zionism to make the desert bloom in all parts of the Land of Israel,” Dagan said.
After the call he said that he believes he could work with Netanyahu and the government to improve all aspects of life in Samaria, including education, culture, and tourism, particularly if more construction is approved.
The Prime Minister’s Office would neither confirm nor deny the call.
Some 49% of the eligible 20,000 voters in Samaria cast their ballots in Tuesday’s election, with 63% of those voting favoring Dagan over his rival, Sarah Dempsky.
“I feel the weight of this responsibly and I thank God for the privilege that has been bestowed upon me,” Dagan said late Tuesday night upon hearing that he had won the election.
“I intend to continue the national task of building the Shomron while providing its residents with excellent service,” said Dagan.
The father of three, Dagan lives in the Shavei Shomron settlement and has served as the deputy head and acting head of the Samaria Regional Council. He replaces Gershon Mesika, who resigned from his post in June after he became a state’s witness in a massive bribery case against public officials.
Dagan made headlines last week when called on the government to rebuild the four North Samaria settlements that it demolished 10 years ago during the 2005 disengagement.
Last week under his leadership some 20 families returned to the ruins of one of those four communities, Sa-Nur. They refused to leave and security forces evacuated them after three days.