Shlomo Ne'eman

File: Itamar Ben Gvir (right), head of the Otzma Yehudit party, and chairman of the Religious Zionism party Bezalel Smotrich at an election campaign event in Sderot, October 26, 2022. (Flash90)

June 25, 2023, 3:59 am

Ministers slam security chiefs for calling settler attacks on Palestinians ‘terror’

Ben Gvir orders probe into ‘collective punishment’ at settlement of Ateret after assault on nearby Palestinian village; Smotrich rejects security chiefs’ denunciation of attacks

By ToI Staff

A general view shows houses in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, May 10, 2023. (Wisam Hashlamounn/ Flash90)

May 12, 2023, 4:58 pm

Yesha settler umbrella group says over half a million Israelis live in West Bank

Organization says settler population grew 2.2% in 2022, with Modiin Illit, Beitar Illit, Ma’ale Adumim, and Ariel the largest cities

By ToI Staff

The scene of a ramming attack near Beit Ummar, April 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean); Inset: The man identified by Palestinian media as the attacker, Palestinian Authority security services officer Mohammed Baradiyah. (Social media)

April 1, 2023, 8:54 pm

Three soldiers injured in West Bank ramming attack, IDF says; assailant shot dead

One victim seriously hurt, another in moderate condition and a third lightly injured; attacker identified as officer in PA security services

By ToI Staff

Gush Etzion Regional Council Chairman Shlomo Ne'eman attends a press conference of the Yesha Council outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, August 12, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 7, 2022, 3:29 am

Yesha settlement umbrella group appoints Shlomo Ne’eman as new leader

Gush Etzion Regional Council head will replace David Elhayani, who announced resignation in June after losing support among settlers for backing government

By ToI Staff

Former Yesha Council chairman and head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council in the West Bank David Elhayani at a protest tent outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 21, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 19, 2021, 12:39 pm

Lambasting ‘inciter’ Trump, settler leader expresses relief president on way out

‘It is easier to stand up to someone who is seen as a foe, as opposed to someone who’s seen as a friend,’ says David Elhayani, citing the Trump plan for a Palestinian state

By Jacob Magid

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman (4th from right) tours the Efrat settlement with settler leaders on February 20, 2020. (Courtesy)

May 24, 2020, 3:06 am

How settler leaders may have scuttled a US plan for immediate annexation

Israeli mayors flew to DC for Trump plan rollout, believing US would back sovereignty within days, but 1 of them says colleague’s press release blasting proposal changed everything

By Jacob Magid

Har Gilo residents protest at the entrance to the settlement following the decision to quarantine 200 South Korean tourists at a military base in the settlement, February 23, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 23, 2020, 5:33 pm

Residents burn tires over talk of quarantining South Koreans in their settlement

Har Gilo community demands defense minister abort proposal to keep some 200 tourists isolated at local military academy over coronavirus fears

By ToI Staff

US President Donald Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, right, meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, on June 22, 2018. (Matty Stern/US Embassy Jerusalem/Flash90)

February 7, 2020, 8:55 pm

Did Kushner say Israel agreed before Trump plan not to annex ahead of election?

Settlers fume after Hebrew reports on Kushner comment to press indicate PM promised speedy annexation when he had already told US he’d wait. But Kushner made no such remark

By ToI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (c) meets with settler leaders in his office on February 25, 2018. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO/File)

February 6, 2020, 7:42 pm

Settler leaders say Netanyahu still pushing for annexation before election

But council heads acknowledge no commitment on issue from prime minister, who recently indicated he will reluctantly delay sovereignty move

By Jacob Magid

The Itamar Yeshiva in the Itamar settlement on January 30, 2020. (Jacob Magid/Times of Israel)

January 31, 2020, 10:57 am

At Trump’s Jewish ‘enclaves,’ fear of Palestinian encirclement, plans to expand

Settler leaders vow to enlarge the 15 West Bank settlements that under US president’s proposal would become sovereign Israeli islands in a potential Palestinian state

By Jacob Magid

(From L-R) Gush Etzion Regional Council chairman Shlomo Ne'eman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yesha Council chairman David Elhayani in front of a Gush Etzion lookout point in the West Bank on November 19, 2019. (Haim Zach/GPO)

January 28, 2020, 2:02 pm

Settler leaders call on PM to oppose Trump plan, even at the cost of annexation

Umbrella group of West Bank mayors says it will not agree to plan that allows for establishment of Palestinian state, but one member says statement was issued without his knowledge

By Jacob Magid

Settler leaders meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, at the Blair House in Washington on January 27, 2020. (Gush Etzion Regional Council)

January 28, 2020, 11:55 am

Settler leader on trip to DC ‘losing sleep’ over ‘horrible’ Trump deal

After meeting with Netanyahu on plan, Jordan Valley mayor says PM trying to sell them on Palestinian state ‘that won’t really be a state’

By Jacob Magid

January 26, 2020, 7:38 pm

PM invites settler leaders to join him in DC for rollout of Trump peace plan

West Bank mayors will stay at same hotel as Netanyahu in order to receive updates in real time on his meetings at White House

By Jacob Magid

Jordan Valley Regional Council chairman David Elhayani. (Miri Tzachi)

November 4, 2019, 6:53 pm

Netanyahu ally elected head of settler umbrella body

Jordan Valley Regional Council chairman David Elhayani edges out candidate backed by group of council chairmen seeking more aggressive approach in lobbying government

By Jacob Magid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Yesha Council leaders at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 27, 2017. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

November 3, 2019, 5:53 am

Settler leadership race comes as movement girds for possible tougher times ahead

Candidates vying to chair Yesha Council of West Bank mayors undeterred by likelihood of less gushing support from Jerusalem and potential changing of friendly guard in Washington

By Jacob Magid