Yesha Council#Wikipedia editing course
{{Short description|Group of councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Yesha Council
| native_name = מועצת יש"ע
| native_name_lang = heb
| named_after = Yesha
| logo = YESHA_Council_LOGO.png
| predecessor = Gush Emunim
| formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1980|12|24}}
| founder = {{ill|Yisrael Harel|he|ישראל הראל}}
| headquarters = Sha'ar Binyamin Industrial Zone
| region = Judea and Samaria Area
| leader_title = Chairman
| leader_name = {{ill|Israel Ganz|he|ישראל גנץ}}
| leader_title2 = CEO
| leader_name2 = Omer Rahamim
| affiliations = Amana
| website = {{URL|http://www.myesha.org.il/}}
}}
The Yesha Council ({{langx|he|מועצת יש"ע}}, Mo'etzet Yesha) is an umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank (and formerly in the Gaza Strip). The Hebrew acronym Yesha is created from Yehuda Shomron, Aza (Judea, Samaria, Gaza).
{{as of|2024}} the chairman of the Yesha Council is Israel Ganz, and Omer Rahamim is CEO.
History
The council was founded in the 1980s as the successor to Gush Emunim ("Bloc of the Faithful"),{{cite web |title=Yesha Council |website=Jewish Virtual Library |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yesha-council |access-date=4 October 2024}} a religious Zionist movement advocating Jewish settlement in territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.{{cite interview |title=Interview with Yisrael Harel |first=Yisrael |last=Harel|website=Dr. Ariel Zellman |date=2 December 2010 |url=https://arielzellman.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/interview-with-yisrael-harel/ |access-date=4 October 2024}} that is, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They regarded this as the return of Jews to their Biblical homeland.{{Cite web|date=18 July 2005|title=שאלת תם מה זה מועצת יש"ע? - וואלה! חדשות|url=https://news.walla.co.il/item/748187|access-date=21 December 2021|website=וואלה!|language=he}} Gush Emunim became a formal organization after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. {{ill|Yisrael Harel|he|ישראל הראל}} was active in this movement, and was a co-founder of the Yesha Foundation as well as founder editor of Nekuda, a monthly journal for Israeli settlers.{{cite book |last=Taub |first=Gadi |title=The Settlers: And the Struggle over the Meaning of Zionism |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-300-14101-6 |jstor=j.ctt1npbg0 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npbg0 |access-date=4 October 2024 |page=}}{{efn|In2019, Harel was a columnist for the daily newspaper Haaretz.{{cite web |title= Yesha Council founder: Unite with Otzma Yehudit|website= 7israelnationalnews.com |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/en/news/259178|date=Feb 17, 2019 |access-date=4 October 2024}}}} The name of the organization, "Mo'etzet Yesha", is the Hebrew acronym for Yehuda Shomron, Aza (Judea, Samaria, Gaza).{{cite web |last=Ḥazon |first=Brit |title=The Yesha Council Leadership Misses the Larger Struggle |website=VISION |date=26 September 2019 |url=https://visionmag.org/yesha-council-leadership-misses-larger-struggle/ |access-date=4 October 2024}}{{cite web |title=What is the Yesha Council? |first= Richard |last= Melson |date= September 2004 |website=New Page 2 |url=http://www.cambridgeforecast.org/richard863/MIDDLEEAST/YESHA.html |access-date=4 October 2024}}
Pinchas Wallerstein was head of the Yesha Council after Harel.
Yesha Council's resettlement policy was criticised by the 2005 Sasson Report, an official Israeli government report commissioned by the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The report found that settlers had constructed 105 illegal outposts, over half of which were built on land that did not belong to the state, in collusion with government ministries and other public bodies.{{cite web |last=Izenberg |first=Dan |title=Yesha calls for investigation of Sasson Report |website= The Jerusalem Post|format=text + video |date=27 December 2005 |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/yesha-calls-for-investigation-of-sasson-report |access-date=4 October 2024}}{{cite web |title=Israeli government challenges the law to embrace illegal settler outposts |website=Question of Palestine| publisher=United Nations |date= 14 May 2012 |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-200715/ |access-date=4 October 2024}}
In 2012, IRIN News reported that the Yesha Council, along with the regional councils, were focusing more on advocacy. Among other activities, they arranged talks by politicians, and aimed to attract Israelis to the settlements through tourism and volunteering.
In October 1999, Yesha Council came to an agreement with the government under prime minister Ehud Barak to dismantle some of the settlements. This met with opposition from a group of young religious Zionist activists called Dor Hemshech, ("the Continuing Generation"), who lay down in front of bulldozers sent to do the work in protest.{{cite web |last=Balint |first=Judy Lash |title=Behind the Headlines in YESHA |website=Jewish Action |date=7 June 2000 |url=https://jewishaction.com/jewish-world/israel/behind-headlines-yesha/ |access-date=4 October 2024}}
In 2009, council chairman Dani Dayan said that settlers must not use violence to advance their means. He said that such actions were "morally bankrupt" and only serve to "hinder the settlers' struggle."{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Yesha-Council-chair-Dayan-condemns-recent-settler-violence|title=Yesha Council chair Dayan condemns recent settler violence|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=8 December 2009}}
From 2008 until 2010,{{cite web |last=Weiss |first=Efrat |title=Pinchas Wallerstein leaving Yesha Council |website=Ynetnews |date=11 January 2010 |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3832594%2C00.html |access-date=4 October 2024}} Pinchas Wallerstein, who was seen as a moderate by some because he had been critical of extremists attacking Palestinian villages, served as director of the Yesha Council. He resigned in January 2010 after falling out with Dani Dayan. He said, however, "the differences between us are more about quantity and timing and less about issues of essential content". The secretary-general of Israeli pacifist organization Peace Now, Yariv Oppenheimer, said that Wallerstein was no moderate, having been a major force behind the illegal expansion of settlements.{{cite web |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |title=Settler leader resigns in row with Yesha council |website=The Jewish Chronicle |date=24 November 2016 |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/settler-leader-resigns-in-row-with-yesha-council-jdmm2kpt |access-date=4 October 2024}}{{cite web |last=Levinson |first=Chaim |title=Wallerstein Quits Yesha Council, Citing Ideological Differences With Leadership |website=Haaretz.com |date=12 January 2010 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2010-01-12/ty-article/wallerstein-quits-yesha-council-citing-ideological-differences-with-leadership/0000017f-e925-da9b-a1ff-ed6f5ea70000 |access-date=4 October 2024}}
In 2019, Yesha Council was presided over by chairman Hananel Dorani and CEO Yigal Dilmoni. They planned to double the Jewish population of "Judea and Samaria" (then 450,000) to a million, within ten years: Hazon Ha-Million – the "vision of one million". Dorani believes that they need to "fight for full Israeli independence from the United States", so that foreign leaders are not able to influence Israeli policies with regard to the settler communities in the West Bank.
In May 2023, Yesha reported that by October 2022 over half a million Israeli settlers were living in the West Bank, which comprised 5.2 percent of the total population of Israel. The growth rate of the settler population was around 2.2% in 2022, with 10,755 Israelis moving to West Bank communities. The settlers are overseen by the military and the Defense Ministry, as this territory is not officially a part of Israel.{{cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=Yesha settler umbrella group says over half a million Israelis live in West Bank |website=The Times of Israel |date=12 May 2023 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/yesha-settler-umbrella-group-says-over-half-a-million-israelis-live-in-west-bank/ |access-date=4 October 2024}}
Aims and description
The stated aims of the Yesha Council are "to promote Israeli communities in Judea, Samaria{{efn|The West Bank}} and the Jordan Valley as the heart of the Bible Land and the birthplace of the Jewish people and its heritage". They want to see Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank.
Their stated strategic objectives are:{{blockquote|
- To secure the borders of the State of Israel
- To safeguard Israel's strategic expanses–between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea
- To ensure Israel's right to the Land by strengthening Israeli settlement in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley}}
The Council aims to assert Israeli sovereignty, to develop transport and other infrastructure, to increase tourism from all over the world, and "to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea". It also aims to create master plans for the whole area.
In addition to municipal and security issues, the Council serves as the political arm of the Jewish residents of Yesha.{{Cite web |date=21 September 2010 |title=With wineries and tourism, settlers try to rebrand settlements for Israeli public |url=https://www.jta.org/2010/09/21/lifestyle/with-wineries-and-tourism-settlers-try-to-rebrand-settlements-for-israeli-public |access-date=21 December 2021 |publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}} The Council lobbies for their interests with the Knesset and the government. It also carries on public relations campaigns for the settlements and organizes public protests.{{Cite web|title=Settlers, Palestinians dream of joint Hebron hotel at kosher Iftar feast|url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/settlers-palestinians-dream-of-joint-hebron-hotel-at-kosher-iftar-feast-665892|access-date=21 December 2021|website=The Jerusalem Post|language=en-US}}
Governance and organisation
The Yesha Council's headquarters are in the Ramat Eshkol neighbourhood of Jerusalem.{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Alan |title=The Yesha Council’s Vision for the Future |website= The Jerusalem Post |date=13 February 2019 |url=https://www.jpost.com/magazine/the-yesha-councils-vision-for-the-future-580576 |access-date=4 October 2024}}
The Yesha Council consists of 25 elected mayors who represent municipalities with an Israeli population of around 500,000 people,{{cite web |title=About Us |website= The Yesha Council |url=https://myesha.org.il/?CategoryID=419 |access-date=3 October 2024}} and is headed by an elected chairman. Israel Ganz was elected chairman in May 2024.{{Cite news |last=Sharon|first=Jeremy|title=Settlements council elects Israel Ganz as next chairman |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/settlements-council-elects-israel-ganz-as-next-chairman/ |date=6 May 2024|access-date=6 July 2024|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US}} Omer Rahamim was appointed CEO in June 2024.{{Cite news |title=Omer Rahamim appointed new Yesha Council CEO|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/391808|access-date=6 July 2024|date=20 June 2024|publisher=Arutz Sheva}}
Activism
= 2005 protests=
In July 2005, when Ariel Sharon was prime minister, the Knesset voted against delaying its withdrawal of troops and settlers from all 21 Gaza settlements, as well as four of the 120 in the West Bank, due to start the following month. The Yesha Council, led by chairman Bentzi Lieberman, led a protest campaign against this decision. Around 6,000 protesters led by ultranationalist rabbis marched from the town of Netivot in southern Israel to the village of Kfar Maimon in an illegal protest, after the government had banned all non-residents from entering Gaza. After three days, the protesters left the village.{{cite web |title=Israeli protesters abandon Gaza march |website=Al Jazeera |date=21 July 2005 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/7/21/israeli-protesters-abandon-gaza-march |access-date=4 October 2024}}{{cite web |last=Urquhart |first=Conal |title=Israeli protesters defy police ban on march |website= The Guardian |date=19 July 2005 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jul/19/israel |access-date=4 October 2024}}{{cite web |title=Thousands protest against Jewish settlements evacuations |website=ABC News |date=11 August 2005 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-08-12/thousands-protest-against-jewish-settlements/2079128 |access-date=4 October 2024|quote=The Government has banned all non-residents from entering the Gaza Strip.}}{{cite web |title=Israel blocks buses carrying Gaza pullout opponents |website= CNN|date= July 18, 2005|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/07/18/mideast/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117145919/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/07/18/mideast/index.html |archive-date=17 January 2022 |url-status=dead}} In Tel Aviv there was a rally of around 150,000 protesters.{{cite web |last=Singer-Heruti |first=Roni |title=Yesha Council Tells 150,000 Protesters to Block Access to Gaza |website=Haaretz.com |date=12 August 2005 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2005-08-12/ty-article/yesha-council-tells-150-000-protesters-to-block-access-to-gaza/0000017f-f136-d497-a1ff-f3b6d1920000 |access-date=4 October 2024}}
=Wikipedia editing (2010) =
In August 2010, it was reported that the Yesha Council, then under director Naftali Bennett, had joined My Israel (Israel Sheli), a network of online pro-Israel activists committed to spreading Zionism online, in their efforts to organize people at a workshop in Jerusalem to teach them how to edit Wikipedia articles in a pro-Israeli way.{{Cite news|title=Wikipedia editing courses launched by Zionist groups|author=Rachel Shabi, Jemima Kiss|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 August 2010|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/18/wikipedia-editing-zionist-groups}} Around 50 people took part in the course.{{Cite news|title=The right's latest weapon: 'Zionist editing' on Wikipedia |first=Nir |last=Hasson|newspaper=Haaretz|date=18 August 2010|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/the-right-s-latest-weapon-zionist-editing-on-wikipedia-1.308667| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531144809/https://www.haaretz.com/2010-08-18/ty-article/the-rights-latest-weapon-zionist-editing-on-wikipedia/0000017f-e69d-d97e-a37f-f7fdd4230000| archive-date= 31 May 2022| url-status= live| url-access= subscription}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3944937,00.html|title=The battle for Wikipedia: Palestinians counter Israeli editing group|date=28 August 2010|website=Ynetnews}} The project organiser, Ayelet Shaked, of Israel Sheli, said in a radio interview that the information had to be reliable and meet Wikipedia rules. She cited some examples such as the use of the term "occupation" in Wikipedia entries, as well as in the editing of entries that link Israel with Judea and Samaria and Jewish history.{{Cite news| last=Benari | first=Elad | title=Zionist Internet Struggle to Hit Wikipedia | url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138917 | publisher=Arutz Sheva | date=3 August 2010 | access-date=18 August 2010 }} One participant said that it was not a "Zionist conspiracy to take over Wikipedia", but an attempt to add balance to articles about disputed issues.{{cite news|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/readers-discuss-wikipedia-editing-course-that-aims-for-balanced-and-zionist-entries/|title=Readers Discuss Wikipedia Editing Course That Aims for 'Balanced and Zionist' Entries|website=The New York Times|author=Robert Mackey|date=2010-08-23}}
In 2011, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales said of the reported course, that Wikipedia had seen "absolutely no impact from that effort whatsoever".{{cite news|author=Aliyana Traison|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/wikipedia-founder-israel-palestine-is-heavily-debated-but-we-re-vigilant-on-neutrality-1.377207|title=Wikipedia founder: Israel-Palestine is heavily debated, but we're vigilant on neutrality|website=Haaretz|date=5 August 2011 }} Wales, who himself is a supporter of Israel, insists on neutrality when editing articles related to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At a speech at Tel Aviv University, when accepting his Dan David Prize in May 2015, Wales insisted to avoid conflicts of interest is to provide as many facts as possible while maintaining neutrality, aiming to overwhelm any chance of bias and imbuing political ideology.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/wikipedia-founder-jimmy-wales-likes-israel-but-stays-neutral/|title=Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales likes Israel but stays neutral|last=Sales|first=Ben|date=19 May 2015|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=25 August 2015}}
See also
Footnotes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.myesha.org.il/}}
{{Judea and Samaria Area}}
{{Authority control}}