Israel Ganz
In 5786, Israel Ganz fused fluent English advocacy in the United States with on-the-ground governance in Binyamin to keep sovereignty over Israeli-held parts of the West Bank squarely on the agenda. As head of Israel’s largest regional municipality and the movement’s umbrella body – representing some 550,000 residents – he operates at both the municipal and national levels.
Ganz invested heavily in US outreach. In June, he led a delegation to Arkansas, meeting Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to advance direct economic cooperation – a moment signaling new traction for applying Israeli law beyond the Green Line. He has also engaged American conservative networks, with the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) adopting a resolution backing Israeli sovereignty after talks with the Yesha Council.
That outreach unfolded against mounting pressure. Days after Ganz’s Arkansas trip, five nations – Australia, Canada, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom – sanctioned what they called “extremist settlers.” Ganz condemned the move as “a dangerous misunderstanding,” arguing it strengthens the Palestinian Authority and endangers Israeli civilians, and called for the PA’s dismantling in response.
Over the past year, he sharpened the case for sovereignty. In February, he warned that Israel faces a “tight window” to act. In May, at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, he urged the government to adopt a formal “Sovereignty Declaration,” saying, “Backed by the American superpower, we must apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.”
Ganz’s rise is also administrative. The Binyamin Regional Council portfolio gives him daily leverage on roads, security, and growth, while the Yesha chairmanship positions him inside Israel’s sovereignty deliberations.
Ganz, 48, represents a new generation of council heads – most of whom are second- or third-generation residents from the West Bank. Their approach is more moderate at times, with a more international, diplomatic perspective. That distinction surfaced in August, when Ganz condemned settler violence near the Palestinian village of Kusra, saying there was no justification for violence against uninvolved Palestinians or Israeli security forces.
Regardless of whether one agrees with his vision, if sovereignty over Israeli parts of the West Bank is actualized, Ganz is poised to be one of the principals who not only advocates for it, but also helps design and execute how it is implemented.
Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Winner
Erez Winner combines decades of military command experience with senior executive leadership and public advocacy dedicated to strengthening Israel’s security, national resilience, and international standing.
He served for 26 years in active-duty combat and command roles, from the First Intifada through Operation Cast Lead, including as a battalion commander, reserve brigade commander, and assistant to the chief of the general staff. He then served for 12 years in the reserves as commander of the Southern Command’s planning division, overseeing operational plans for confronting Hamas, including the last operation that brought back our hostages.
In civilian life, Winner has served as CEO of Jerusalem Wineries and Willi-Food, and as chairman of the Sde Boker Field School. As chairman of IDSF, he helps provide a measured Zionist voice in Israeli and international media, shaping public discussion and strengthening support for Israel.
IDSF focuses on home-front security, warning of risks created by illegal weapons, serious crime, and threats from the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Its work includes public advocacy, operational proposals for security leaders, legislative initiatives, and the “Home Shield Defense” project, which strengthens communities’ ability to protect themselves and function during emergencies. The movement also supports Jewish communities in the United States facing severe antisemitic attacks.
Another priority is the soft-power campaign against antisemitism and efforts to delegitimize Israel. Working with Jewish organizations and government bodies, IDSF is developing a national action plan and operating framework for use in Israel and worldwide.
Education is the movement’s highest priority. IDSF runs lectures for high school students and participants in pre-military academies. It operates an academy in Moshav Tekuma, established in memory of Omer Smadja, 25, who was killed in a Hamas mortar attack in the central Gaza Strip on June 20, 2024. Omer was the son of Oren Smadja, the second Israeli to win an Olympic medal.
It is also creating two new academies for police recruits: one for Border Police, in memory of Ran Gvili, 24, a heroic police fighter who was killed fighting Hamas terrorists near Kibbutz Alumim on October 7, 2023, and another for haredi recruits entering the police.
“Whenever there is a Zionist need,” says Winner, “We’ll be there.”
<< No. 28: Rabbis Sholom Duchman, Dov Landau, Ephraim Mirvis, Rick Jacobs, and Mendy Kotlarsky