Last night, the KKL-JNF executive board approved a monumental resolution that officially changes the organization’s long standing policy, and regulates its activities in the development of settlement and land acquisition in communities located beyond the Green Line, in Judea and Samaria.
The decision was discussed by the KKL-JNF executive board and approved by a majority vote (six supporters versus five opponents) by representatives of the right-wing coalition in the executive board.
Eretz Hakodesh is a chareidi American faction that ran for the first time in the last World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections, winning an impressive 20,000 votes, becoming the third largest faction in the United States. It was the establishment of this right-wing coalition that enabled the representatives of the right-wing factions to take over key positions and pass resolutions to strengthen Jewish settlement throughout the Land of Israel for the first time in the history of the World Zionist Organization (WZO).
Rabbi Pesach Lerner, chairman of the faction, congratulated the chairman of KKL-JNF, Avraham Duvdevani (Duvdev), and the deputy chairman, Shlomo (Momo) Deri, who took the lead in making this decision into a reality. The main goal of the establishment of the Eretz Hakodesh faction was to put an end to the total control of the liberal factions in the institutions of the World Zionist Organization (WZO), which promote clear left-wing agendas under the innocent guise of “strengthening ties with Diaspora Jewry.” Our goal was to highlight the fact that Diaspora Jewry supports The State of Israel and wants to strengthen the settlement movement and assist in maintaining its security. “I am proud of this amazing achievement and congratulate our partners for it.”
Rabbi Lerner also expressed deep regret over the actions of the representatives of the liberal movements and their involvement among the current American government officials in an attempt to condemn Israel and prevent the approval of the resolution. “I hope that the representatives of all the factions in the WZO will learn to respect the majority decision, and will refrain from cooperating with foreign parties in order to create a false representation of crisis and diplomatic pressure.”
In addition, the chareidi faction notes with great satisfaction the achievement of the inclusion of the chareidi communities of Emanuel and Beitar Illit together with the Haredi city of Kiryat Sefer, in the decision which was made. This is after the wording of the published initial decision attached a list of communities defined as “preferential areas for purchase.” But the Haredi communities were not included in that list. Upon receiving the wording of the decision, the faction’s representatives worked tirelessly to include the Haredi communities of Beitar Illit and Emanuel in the list of preferential communities.
“This decision is a welcomed and historic decision. We are proud and excited that we had a part in creating it, and welcome the fact that it also includes the Haredi communities designated as preferential areas.”
