Members of Knesset from the Land of Israel Lobby gathered with local council heads on Sunday to launch a campaign on behalf of a bill for Israeli sovereignty over the eastern Jerusalem suburb of Ma'aleh Adumim. Lobby Chairman Yo'av Kish said the measure will be submitted in about a couple of weeks.
Those in attendance signed a document that expected international understanding for the move, but said Israel should carry out the move - even if arouses international opposition - because it is proper and needed. Ma'aleh Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel said former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin called the city an integral part of Israel in 1974, as did subsequent leaders. Kashriel said it would be the first step in applying Israeli law to all of Judea and Samaria.