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Exclusive Interview: Danny Dayan, Yesha Council Chairman

Anthony Stroe - 11/27/2007

The Yesha Council is an umbrella group that governs Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). Yesha is the Hebrew acronym Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The Yesha Council was formed in the 1970's as a successor to Gush Emunim, an organization formed to oversee the return to Jews to their Biblical homeland. The council consists of 25 elected mayors and 10 community leaders. Its mandate is to provide security for its residents such as to arrange the acquisition of bullet proof ambulances and buses; to oversee the improvements of infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water supplies and to act as domestic and international emissaries on behalf of its residents. Anthony Stroe interviewed him for the Global Politician.

Q. At the meeting between you and PM Olmert, he told you that his policy is to dismantle the communities in Yesha. What is your response to this?

A: First of all at our meeting this was not stated. The expulsion of outposts not communities solely was discussed at the Prime Minister's cabinet session.


Q: What will you do if there is an expulsion of the communities in Yesha to create a Palestinian state?

A: It will not happen because it is a political issue, not a legal issue. The communities in Yesha were erected with full permission from Prime Minister Sharon. Communities erected after the arbitrary date of March 2001 are the ones that are illegal, but of course this is a political ploy. Abbas has released two thousand terrorists and claims to fight terror. It's immoral and obscene. Not fulfilling the Palestinians' commitment.


Q: Are you going to call for national referendum for Yesha to become an independent state? Will Israeli support Yesha as an independent state?

A: No. Yesha is part of Israel.


Q: How many people live in Yesha?

A: There are two hundred and eighty thousand Jews living in Yesha with five or six percent per year growth. One third are secular, one third are Orthodox and one third are Ultra Orthodox.


Q: Where will the people of Yesha move to if they are expelled from their homes?

A: Almost impossible to do that. It will break the back bone of Israeli Society. The Raison D'etre of Israel will be demolished. I live in Ma'ale Shomron. I can see Israel's tallest building from my bedroom. Israel and its allies have to decide if they want me in my bedroom or Hamas or Islamic Jihad in my bedroom with a missile pointed at Israel's tallest building? Returning to pre-1967 borders is suicidal. Olmert and Abbas are weak leaders there won't be acceptance. We will fight politically. We will have marches. It will be grassroots.

Q: Will there be armed resistance to to an expulsion from Yesha?

A: I can not predict what will happen. I am opposed to violence.