Ambassador David Friedman
Ambassador David FriedmanArutz Sheva

The head of the Efrat Regional Council, Oded Ravivi, who also serves as head of the Yesha Council's foreign desk, will take part in the American Independence Day celebrations at the home of Ambassador David Friedman in Herzliya Monday evening.

Together with Revivi, other municipal leaders and senior officials from Judea and Samaria were invited to the event.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva, Revivi said that the decision to invite the leaders of the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria to the Independence Day celebration was a further proof of the change in US policy towards the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria which has occurred under the Trump Administration.

"Since the change of government in the White House, we have witnessed the growing bond between us and them. Some of us also received an invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony at the White House, and we met a few days ago with special envoy Jason Greenblatt," Revivi said.

Revivi is not worried about the efforts by the administration to restart the peace process and the possible effects on the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. "They have to put things in perspective. They have to take care of the interests of the US, which is trying to create quiet in our region in order to form a broad coalition against Iran. But no one has started sketching maps or anything.

"It's a long process and right now there's nothing concrete. It is true that we have all kinds of wants and dreams, but we have to see how we can make the most out of the reality we live in," he added.

Revivi said that the complaints by other council heads about the freeze on construction in Judea and Samaria are understandable, but they must understand that this is the reality at the moment. "We have a dialogue with the Prime Minister. He has heard the frustration of the heads of the councils and he claims that he is under limitations. Since none of us are sitting in his seat, we have to decide whether we believe him or whether we need to create alternatives."

''Right now we are inclined to believe him and to trust him, but at the same time we present our concerns to him, and his constituency would like to see him move in a certain direction."