clear that according to their concepts they were entitled to decide where and when
settlement should take place. That they believed that their will would prevail and that
ultimately they would impose their decision and their plan on the government. It was
in this conviction that the Sebastia operation was born. The people knew that the gov-
ernment would use its authority, and nevertheless they believed that they would cre-
ate an accomplished fact and the government of Israel would say amen.
Thus, the argument today is not over settlement, but over the maintenance of
state responsibility and authority, over the foundations of the democratic system, over
the authority of the government, which is subject to the Knesset. The Knesset must
reject acts whose aim is to undermine the foundations of the democratic system and
governmental authority in Israel. This is vital not only as a judgement on the past,
but also to secure the future. The Knesset’s ruling will be of the utmost educational
and political importance. Aspirations in the sphere of settlement must not serve as jus-
tification for actions against the authority of the state.
Israel is a free society which respects various views and differences of opinion. Dif-
ferences of opinion exist, inter alia, regarding various aspects of the settlement issue.
Every person and group holds its opinion dear, and many of us are zealous in their
views. It is intolerable, however, that any group of people in Israel—whatever its
motives—should take the law into its own hands in spheres which are not the private
domain of the individual but are subject to the decision of the community. The people
of Israel do not adopt their decisions by arbitrary will, but according to democratic
rules and processes, and by the will of the majority. These rules must also apply to
settlement in the administered areas, which have not been annexed to Israel, and in
every act of settlement in the areas’ security and political considerations must be taken
into account. Every act of settlement in the areas imposes obligations on Israel’s
defence forces and involves national responsibility.
Only the government of Israel is authorized to decide where and when to settle,
whether at one time or another, and no government can tolerate the violation of this
authority.
The government’s decisions can be influenced by means of the ballot box. By the
Knesset’s decisions, by public opinion, but not by deeds which undermine the foun-
dations of our regime. This consciousness is binding on all sections of the commu-
nity, and first and foremost on the people’s representatives and emissaries.
In conclusion, under the circumstances in which Israel is placed, every new set-
tlement requires the prior approval of the government of Israel, which is subject to
the authority of the Knesset. Provocative and unauthorized initiatives in the adminis-
tered areas cannot be tolerated. Settlement is not a demonstration, nor is it compati-
ble with violation of the law. The IDF should not have security obligations stemming
from irresponsible acts imposed on it. The IDF should not be burdened with tasks
that disrupt its preparations and plans, and it should not be confronted with a situa-
tion wherein it is obliged to use force to prevent occupation of a location without
prior and authorized sanction.
The government will, in the future as in the past, scrupulously maintain the
customary procedures in the sphere of settlement. It will work for the continuation
of settlement in line with its authoritative decisions. It will do whatever has to be
done to prevent any attempt to exploit the ideal of settlement for an anti-democratic
purpose.
184 ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS