In response to the murderous terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, the Security Cabinet decided unanimously to authorize nine communities in Judea and Samaria.

These communities have existed for many years; some have existed for decades. Following consultations by the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Finance Minister, National Security Minister, and Strategic Affairs Minister, it was agreed to authorize the following communities:

1. Avigil

2. Bet Hogla

3. Givat Harel / Haroeh

4. Givat Arnon

5. Mitzpe Yehuda

6. Malachei Hashalom

7. Ashael

8. Sde Boaz

9. Shaharit

The Civil Administration Higher Planning Committee will be convened in the coming days to approve the construction of new residential units in existing communities in Judea and Samaria.

The Security Cabinet made a series of additional decisions in the framework of the determined fight against terrorism, including reinforcing Police and Border Police units in Jerusalem and expanding Police operations against inciters and supporters of terrorism.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the security forces will take focused action against terrorists and that there will be no collective punishment.

The Minister of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, congratulated the decision to approve the communities: “Congratulations to the Security Cabinet that accepted Minister Ben-Gvir’s request and approved the communities. The dedicated settlers deserve to receive water, electricity, and public buildings. However, we will not be satisfied with just nine settlements, they are only the beginning, on the way to training more settlements, on the way to the fulfillment of the Zionist vision.”

A delegation of the Hamas terrorist organization, led by Ismail Haniyeh, concluded a round of talks in Cairo with the head of Egyptian intelligence, which took place after similar talks with a delegation of the leadership of the Islamic Jihad.

Hamas officials told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, that Haniyeh told his hosts that his organization did not intend to work to calm the situation, and demanded that Egypt pressure Israel to stop what he defined as “provocations against the Palestinians.”

The Egyptians told Hamas that there is an American and international desire to maintain calm in the Judea and Samaria area, and that the Biden administration is exerting pressure on the Netanyahu government to prevent it from taking steps that would lead to “the explosion of the situation and the outbreak of a new intifada.”

The newspaper also stated that on this basis, Egypt asked Hamas to respond in the affirmative to the current US proposal and stop the terrorist attacks – but Hamas did not agree and claimed in response: “We will not sit idly by in view of the actions of the two extremist ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.”

On the issue of the return of IDF soldiers and missing Israelis being held by Hamas in exchange for the release of terrorists, the terrorist organization said that the completion of the negotiations on this issue would be a helpful factor in achieving calm, while increasing the pressure on the terrorists could lead to escalation.