by Andrew Friedman
Four government ministers, two Consuls General and 350 participants in AIPAC’s annual policy conference held a celebration mark the 50th anniversary of the re-unification of Jerusalem and the liberation of Judea and Samaria during the 1967 Six-Day War.
The event was hosted by Oded Revivi, mayor of Efrat and Yesha Council chief foreign envoy, and Dani Dayan, Revivi’s predecessor who currently serves as Israel’s Consul General in New York. It featured Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Galant MK (Kulanu), acting Communications Minister Tzahi Hanegbi (Likud), Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan (Jewish Home) and Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud). Participants also had the opportunity to sample Judea and Samaria produce, including wine, dates, halvah and Dead Sea cosmetics.
Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant said the mountains of Judea and Samaria are a critical strategic asset for the State of Israel, while Minister Tzachi Hanegbi added, “Defense is important, and security is important. But the most important thing is our moral claim. We are committed to living in our historic land – a land that was given to us not by Google or Wikipedia but by the Bible. By King David, King Saul, King Solomon, Abraham and others. This is our birthright, and we will demand our rights here forever.”
Others, including Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely and Deputy Minister of Defense Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, spoke about the need to strengthen Israel’s grip over Judea and Samaria, including new communities and moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
“We are committed to doing everything in our power to strengthen the Israeli presence in Judea and Samaria by improving roads, infrastructure, laws and everything that needs to be done to ensure that there will be one million Israelis living in Judea and Samaria,” Ben Dahan said. “It’s doable.”