Ahead of his participation in the upcoming Jerusalem Post Miami Conference, Yisrael Ganz, governor of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, warns that Iran is intensifying its efforts to establish a foothold in Judea and Samaria, exploiting what he describes as political and security vacuums in the region. According to Ganz, recent Israeli military successes against Iranian proxies in Lebanon and Syria, along with direct strikes that weakened Iran itself, have prompted Tehran to redirect its focus. “Iran operates methodically wherever there is a political and legal vacuum,” he said. “That’s what we saw in Syria and Lebanon, and it’s exactly what is happening now in Judea and Samaria.” Ganz argues that Iran is capitalizing on the Palestinian Authority’s weakness, which he describes as “failed and corrupt” and incapable of preventing instability.
Over the last two years, Iran has significantly stepped up its financial and operational role in the region. This increase followed the disruption of its proxy networks in other areas and a severe blow to Hamas in Gaza. Ganz mentioned that Israeli security officials believe that during the conflict, most of the cash flooding into the territory originated from Iran, aimed at destabilizing the region. He praised Israel’s security agencies for preventing what he called a “dangerous strategic shift.” Meanwhile, Ganz strongly opposed renewed international efforts to bolster the Palestinian Authority as a stabilizing force. He warned, "The idea that the Palestinian Authority is the solution rather than part of the problem is a disaster." He also accused the PA of training forces for offensive operations against Israeli communities and sending personnel abroad for advanced weapons training. “On the day of reckoning, these capabilities could be used against Israel, whether by the Authority itself or manipulated by Iran," he added.
At the Miami Conference, Ganz is set to elaborate on what he terms the “Joshua and Caleb Plan,” which he initially introduced at a Jerusalem Post conference in Washington. He describes the plan as offering “a new horizon for all residents of Judea and Samaria,” emphasizing zero tolerance for terrorism and incitement, Israeli security oversight across the territory, and the application of Israeli law in non-Arab populated areas. The proposal also supports local Arab governance, US-supervised elections, and a broad economic development initiative. Ganz is confident that with international support, Judea and Samaria could transform into a special economic zone, potentially generating up to 200,000 jobs within five years.
Written in collaboration with the Yesha Council