In light of that, U.S. ally Israel would like to see tariffs – or some type of economic pressure – applied to a certain Israeli antagonist, Ireland.
Yossi Dagan, governor of Samaria and head of the Shomron Regional Council in Israel, appeared on Capitol Hill Tuesday and asked lawmakers step in with sanctions or high tariffs should the Republic of Ireland follow through with its Bill 2025 entitled “General Scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The bill, first proposed in 2018, would prohibit the importation of goods from Judea and Samara, Israeli lands once a central part of the ministry of Jesus Christ.
In a letter delivered to senior White House officials and members of Congress, Dagan labeled Ireland’s plan “antisemitic legislation that discriminates solely against Jews living in Judea and Samaria.”
If Ireland follows through with the legislation it would “crown itself as an antisemitic state,” Dagan said on Washington Watch.
There was some positive feedback.
From Israel National News, Sen. Rick Scott criticized the legislation on social media, tweeting: "This foolish move not only wrongfully targets Israel & the Jewish Community, but also harms American businesses. They should think twice about the message they’re sending by passing this bill, which complicates our economic relationship & targets our ally."
New York U.S. House member Claudia Tenney called on Ireland to “rescind this radical proposal.”
She called it not only “deeply antisemitic but antithetical to Western values.”
Israel exerting sovereignty over Judea and Samaria is the right thing to do, Dagan said.
“Judea and Samara, first of all this is historical justice because God is bringing us the opportunity to build again the (land) the way it was (recognized) by prophecy … Jeremiah, Amos. Sovereignty to the Bible is saying to God, ‘Thank you very much. We appreciate the gift that you are bringing to us,’” he told show host Tony Perkins.
For Israel, control of Judea and Samaria is not only about being true to the Bible. There’s a security component as well.
The highlands of Judea and Samaria overlook Israel’s coastal plain, where the majority of the nation’s population and critical infrastructure is located. Giving away that ground in any “two-state solution” would make Tel Aviv, Ben-Gurion Airport, major highways and more easy targets. Hostile forces could easily threaten key cities with rockets, artillery or other attacks.
“The Judea and Samaria mountains and are the security belt of state of Israel because between the Mediterranean and Jordan River we have 43 miles Samaria mountains,” Dagan said.
The thin Green Line
Without the mountains as a buffer, the 1967 Green Line, the pre-Six Day War armistice line, is woefully inadequate, leaving, at some points, only nine miles between Israel and potential hostile territory.
In its quest for sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, Israel needs help from the United States, Dagan said.
“First of all, it is the responsibility of the Israelis and our prime minister, but we need help to educate people around the world on how necessary it is. We can do this without, but with recognition from the United States, it’s better.”
