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Judea and Samaria Settlement Growth Accelerates · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

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  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
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  Speaker 1: In Judea and Samaria, significant expansion of Jewish communities is underway.
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  Speaker 1: Since the current government took office at the end of 2022,
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  Speaker 1: 104 Jewish communities have been established or retroactively legalised in
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  Speaker 1: the region. Finance Minister Beit Sarlel Smotrich has been central
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  Speaker 1: to this transformation, utilising new authority over civilian affairs to
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  Speaker 1: reshape settlement policy. The approved communities are not all entirely new,
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  Speaker 1: with some being previously unauthorised outposts that have gained official status.
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  Speaker 1: This past summer alone, plans and funding were approved for
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  Speaker 1: 34 communities across areas like Samaria, the Mete Bainiamin Regional Council,
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  Speaker 1: the Jordan Valley, Gush Etzion, the Hebron region and the
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  Speaker 1: Dead Sea area. As of January 1st, Over 541,000 Jews
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  Speaker 1: reside in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley, a growth
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  Speaker 1: rate double that of Israel's general population. The strategic importance
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  Speaker 1: of locations like northern Samaria and the Jordan Valley is
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  Speaker 1: highlighted as vital for Israel's security. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense
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  Speaker 1: Forces are preparing to launch the process of awarding medals
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  Speaker 1: for the heroism displayed during the battles of October 7.
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  Speaker 1: A commander's meeting is scheduled for October 14. chaired by
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  Speaker 1: Major General Dado Bar-Khalifa and Major General Orly Markman, to
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  Speaker 1: outline the method for reviewing and awarding acts of sacrifice
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  Speaker 1: and heroism by soldiers. The aim is to recognise extraordinary
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  Speaker 1: acts and pass on the legacy of combat heroism to
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  Speaker 1: future generations. This process will also support forwarding acts of
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  Speaker 1: extraordinary heroism by civilians to the Advisory Committee to the
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  Speaker 1: President for consideration for the Presidential Medal for Civilian Heroism.
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  Speaker 1: following the model established by President Isaac Herzog after the massacre,
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  Speaker 1: which has recognised individuals like Lion Barda, who was honoured
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  Speaker 1: posthumously for her actions at the Nova Music Festival. On
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  Speaker 1: the diplomatic front, Paraguay's Vice President Pedro Aliana recently visited Israel,
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  Speaker 1: reaffirming his country's firm alliance and commitment to expanding cooperation.
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  Speaker 1: Aliana acknowledged that maintaining such a strong stance alongside Israel
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  Speaker 1: can incur political costs, but stated that Paraguay, will not
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  Speaker 1: renounce friendship with Israel. This steadfast support contrasts with global
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  Speaker 1: trends and is framed within Paraguay's opposition to groups like Hamas,
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  Speaker 1: Hezbollah and Iran, and its defence of Israel's right to
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  Speaker 1: protect itself. Domestically, Haifa Mayor Yonah Yahav has sent a
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  Speaker 1: letter to leaders of all political parties urging them to
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  Speaker 1: include a binding commitment in their coalition agreements to end
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  Speaker 1: petrochemical operations in Haifa Bay by 2029. The demand stems
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  Speaker 1: from significant security threats, including missile strikes on the Bazan
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  Speaker 1: refinery complex that killed three employees during the war, and
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  Speaker 1: ongoing health risks to residents from air pollution. Meir Yahav
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  Speaker 1: stressed the need to turn the removal of the industry
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  Speaker 1: from a political promise into a binding government commitment, with
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  Speaker 1: a clear deadline, allocated budget, and implementation schedule. For continuing
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch
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  Speaker 1: from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today ongoing
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  Speaker 1: war report in your podcast app so you don't miss
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: the next update. Keep in mind that this AI generated
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  Speaker 1: report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for
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  Speaker 1: a comprehensive view.