Settler movement takes over Jewish National Fund

This is an enormous victory for the settlers. From now on, they have a steady foothold in the “Holy of Holies” of historic Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel. The ultimate symbol of pioneering and building up the country and of the left’s past glory has been turned into an executive arm of the settler movement. The decision revealed what everyone already knew: The Jewish National Fund (JNF) had turned into a right-wing, pro-settler organization.

Inevitably, the decision was celebrated by the leaders of the settler movement and their representatives in the Knesset. The head of the Religious Zionism party, Bezalel Smotrich, tweeted, “Excellent! This was one of our demands in the coalition agreements for national institutions. Finally, the JNF is back to its old self, focusing on its historic role: redeeming the Land of Israel for Jewish settlement. This is Zionism 2021.”

How does this impact Biden? While his official foreign policy does not seem to prioritize diplomatic negotiations with the Palestinians, the White House cannot ignore this rather “esoteric” decision made in some remote corner of the Middle East by an antiquated, archaic organization. Why? Because the decision itself is harmful to any efforts to reach a “two-state solution,” which is part of the overall vision for the region, as expressed by Biden and his new administration. Whether the president agrees or not, the Jewish National Fund decision has become his headache.

And his administration responded accordingly. Even before the provocative decision was finalized and formalized, the State Department issued formal criticism of the move. State Department spokesman Ned Price said, “We believe it is critical to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and that undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution.” He said such steps could include the “annexation of territory, settlement activity, demolitions, incitement to violence [and] the provision of compensation for individuals in prison for acts of terrorism.”

Reform Jews in the United States, who have a representative on the Jewish National Fund board, also tried to block the initiative before it was formally approved. A statement released in the name of the Union for Reform Judaism leader, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, said his movement opposes the expansion of the settlements because it puts the possibility of a two-state solution at risk. “We love and support the Jewish and democratic State of Israel which is why we will continue to strongly oppose policies that undermine the safety, security and moral character of our Jewish homeland.”

Jacobs made it perfectly clear that the Reform movement does not intend to stand idly by. It plans to pursue different political and legal channels, and to recruit the Jewish community to fight this decision. He added that the timing of the decision, just after Biden entered office, could pose a risk to the good relationships Biden is trying to build.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz also tried to block the decision. He appealed to fund Chairman Avraham Duvdevani (who is identified with the right-wing and religious Zionist camps) in a letter, saying the decision was “especially sensitive” and that its impact should be considered “because it could have international implications in terms of the relationship between Israel and the Biden Administration and between Israel and the Diaspora.”

But, as seen, the pressure and condemnations had no impact. The decision was made. If Benjamin Netanyahu really wanted to stop it, he could have done so easily, but that’s the last thing the prime minister would do one month before an election when he so desperately needs every vote on the right. At the same time, Netanyahu is also signaling to Biden that despite the chilly reception he seems to be receiving from the White House, he does not intend to bend, certainly not now, after the International Criminal Court in the Hague ruled that it would allow an investigation into Israel’s activities in the West Bank. Politically, the Jewish National Fund decision actually serves Netanyahu’s interests as leader of the right.

Another person alarmed by the decision but unable to stop it is Rabbi Gilad Kariv, a representative of the Reform movement on the Board of the World Zionist Organization and a Labor party candidate for the Knesset. “This is a significant threat to our national institutions in general and the Jewish National Fund in particular,” he said. “The far right is continuing its incessant efforts to establish facts on the ground, which will impede any progress on the diplomatic front.”

Meretz party chair Nitzan Horowitz also recognized the ominous nature of the decision. “The right is turning the Jewish National Fund into the Settlement National Fund. The JNF is not some company charged with destroying a potential political solution and any chance for peace that comes with it,” he tweeted.

The problem is that political circumstances are not acting in the interest of anyone opposed to the decision. All polls show that the center-left parties will suffer a thrashing in the upcoming election and that their representation in the Knesset will hit another low.