Gabi Ashkenazi
Photo: Yaron Brener
Ashkenazi to settlers: We have to work together
West Bank communities' heads attend Rosh Hashana toast given by GOC Central Command. IDF chief pledges military's support to settlers, says coming year poses variety of new challenges
The heads of the West Bank communities were guests of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi Sunday,
at a Rosh Hashana toast
held at the GOC Central Command.
Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni and Head of the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division Brig.-Gen. Noam Tibon were also in attendance.
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"It is obvious that you're operating in a complex reality and that you (often) find yourselves between a rock and a hard place. We, in this sector, will lend you whatever support we can," said Ashkenazi.
"The coming year will pose security challenges, maybe even other challenges. We will have to work together and bolster our relationship," he added.
The ceremony was also Ashkenazi's first chance to meet many of the area's community heads.
Several prominent settlement movement figures attended the toast, including Yesha Council Chairman Danny Dayan, Pinchas Vallerstein, head of Binyamin Regional Council and Amana Settlement Movement Chair Ze'ev Hever.
Other council heads attending the ceremony included Shaul Goldstein (Gush Etzion), Tsviki Bar Hai (Har Hevron) Avi Roeh (Binyamin), Gershon Mesika (Shomron) Hananel Durani (Kedumim) as well as mayors Ron Nachman (Ariel) and Malachi Levinger (Kiryat Arba).
Maj.-Gen. Shamni told the gathering that the previous year "was a positive one, security-wise. Both the Israeli and the Palestinian residents of the area saw an improvement in freedom of movement and the safety of the routes.
"We are still facing complex challenges and we don’t know how things are going to shape out," he continued. "The IDF is geared for any possibility and together we can face all the challenges ahead."
Shamni, who has had his fair share of disputes with the settlement heads, thanked them "for exercising leadership and responsibility when dealing with the population," and pledged the GOC Central Command's continued support for their needs.
'Leave IDF out of politics'
The community heads offered the officers their best holiday wishes, but were critical of the government.
"Unfortunately, some in Israel fail to understand us and claim that we clash with security forces and the Palestinians and they try to denounce the IDF as an unethical army – the IDF is a very ethical army," said Kedumim Council Head Hananel Durani.
"The truth is that the settler population is our first priority, but we too have fringe groups. Any assault on the leaders of the settlement movement or IDF officers is reprehensible," he added.
Gush Etzion Council Head Shaul Goldstein added that, "As long as things are done in an orderly fashion, i.e. – we are consulted – than we will cooperate with the military in full.
"We hope (Ashkenazi) keeps his word and leaves the IDF out of political matters. We hope to avoid conflict. I don’t think that today, evicting outposts is in anyone's best interest."
As for the planned settlement freeze, Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman seemed pessimistic: "We are facing a time of difficult political decisions. No one is talking with us, nor have we been made privy to the government's plans.
"It's okay to agree and disagree but it's not okay not to hold any dialogue."
