Netanyahu slams settler leader for insulting Trump

Netanyahu denounced Elhayani's words and affirmed that Trump was a "great friend" of Israel who had taken historic action on Israel's behalf.

By LAHAV HARKOV, TOVAH LAZAROFF
US President Donald Trump unveils his Middle East peace plan together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House on January 28, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump unveils his Middle East peace plan together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House on January 28, 2020
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed settler leader David Elhayani for remarks he made to the Haaretz newspaper in which he said that US President Donald Trump was not a friend of Israel.
The comment brought tension between settlers and the Trump administration over the US peace plan to a new height, with Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin calling for Elhayani to resign.
In a statement to Haaretz, Netanyahu denounced Elhayani's words and affirmed that Trump was a "great friend" of Israel who had taken historic action on Israel's behalf by relocating the US Embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
"It is unfortunate that instead of expressing gratitude there are those who deny this friendship, which is unparalleled,” Netanyahu said.
Levin accused Elhayani of making “rude” and “irresponsible” remarks about Trump that should be “condemned” and “criticized.”
Elhayani should have thanked Trump for his “tremendous work in favor of the State of Israel and the settlements,” Levin said.  He added that Elhayani’s actions have done damage during a time when effort was being made to “advance the historic application of sovereignty,” Levin said.
Elhayani, who is also the Jordan Valley Regional Council head, issued a scathing response through that office and not the office of the Yesha Council.
He urged Levin to “shed his snakeskin, to take into account the Likud voters and to take responsibility for drawing up the evacuation map and that would establish a Palestinian state.”
Efrat Council head Oded Revivi, who has supported the Trump plan from the beginning, immediately defended Levin.
“Knesset Speaker Levin is a true friend of the settlements. He was a key activist against the [2005] Disengagement, he chaired the Knesset Land of Israel Caucus and has worked to advanced scores of legislation and budgets for the settlements. It is inappropriate and unfair to speak of his having a snake skin. One need only look at the tourist initiatives he developed in Jude and Samaria as Tourism Minister to understand who he is and how great his contributions have been,” Revivi said.
The exchange of barbs came as the settler leadership and Yamina party had ramped up their campaigns against Trump’s peace plan, which offers Israel the opportunity to apply sovereignty over 30% of the West Bank.
But while the plan allows Israel to annex all the settlements, the settler leadership has argued that it would create conditions for a de-facto freeze and could lead to the demolition of at least 15 settlements. They are also opposed to the portion of the plan that calls for the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state on 70% of the West Bank.
But the settlers and Yamina faced backlash from the Trump administration over their opposition to his peace plan.
Yamina Party head Naftali Bennett was the first to fold, when earlier this week he retracted his sharp criticism of Trump and his peace plan by issuing a statement in English in support of Trump.
On Wednesday Shaked also spoke positively of the US President. She tweeted in English, “President @realDonaldTrump is a true friend of Israel!. We deeply appreciate all that he has done for [Israel] in the diplomatic, security [and] legal arenas- [and] so much more. We can debate when [and] how Israel should apply sovereignty. But Trump's friendship [and] support is beyond any doubt."
Binyamin Regional Council head Israel Ganz, who has been a vocal opponent of the move, also issued a tweet in support of the US President. "Donald Trump is not just a true friend of Israel, but also a strong ally ... We are grateful for his historic position the rights of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria,” Ganz wrote.


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