Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israeli residents in Samaria improve the area’s security.
The statement, which Katz made during the 6th Leadership Conference of Samaria Communities in Jerusalem, signals a departure from his predecessor Yoav Gallant’s rhetoric.
Gallant expressed support for expanding some Israeli residential presence in Samaria and Judea but stopped short of tying it to an improvement in the security situation.
In January, Gallant said that it’s “nothing short of an Israeli security interest to have a strong Palestinian Authority,” which opposes the presence of Israelis in Judea and Samaria and has been involved in attempts to limit or frustrate Jewish presence there.
Israel Defense Forces commanders told Katz “that the security problem developed because there are no Jewish communities there,” the minister said at the conference. “Jewish communities play a dual role, both ideological and security-related.”
Some 200 people attended the event, which the Settlements Division of the Samaria Regional Council organized.
“Compared to other regions, the situation in northern Samaria is completely different because in those areas, Jewish communities exist, and the IDF has maintained a continuous presence over the years,” he said.
“Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria serve as a shield for all population centers in Israel,” he added. “It has a dual purpose—to inherit the land of our ancestors and to provide security for the State of Israel.”
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan reinforced Katz’s message, calling Samaria “historical justice and Israel’s protective vest.”
Daniella Weiss, chairwoman of the Nachala movement, welcomed Katz’s remarks, describing them as a “clear call for action” to reestablish Jewish communities in northern Samaria, particularly in Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim. Those settlements were uprooted in 2005 during the so-called Disengagement Plan.
“Following the expulsion and destruction of these settlements, northern Samaria gradually became Hamastan,” Weiss said. “The unequivocal link between settlement and security should also be applied to the Gaza Strip.”
Rabbi Elishama Cohen, head of the Homesh Yeshiva, discussed the spiritual and national significance of resettling northern Samaria.
“This is not just a security issue where more soldiers will patrol the area. It is about clarity,” he said. “When there is Jewish settlement, there is a clear message that this land belongs to us. Our enemies sense hesitation, and that emboldens them.”
“Conversely, when we assert ownership, they understand our resolve,” he said.
He concluded by blessing Katz and expressing hope that under the latter’s leadership, the government would take concrete steps to rebuild these settlements.
“May this not just remain words but actions that will be remembered forever,” he said.