Brother-in-law to the Prime Minister, world-renowned Tanach authority Dr. Hagai ben Artzi issued an open call to PM Netanyahu to declare sovereignty over the Jordan Valley first, as the area is a matter of national consensus.
Speaking at the Sovereignty Movement vigil adjacent to the Prime Minister's office, ben Artzi said: "We cannot afford to recognize, even by any declaration, the establishment of a Palestinian state. No Palestinian state whatsoever between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. Even if the price is no Israeli sovereignty on the Jewish settlements. No Palestinian state.
"But we can, on the basis of a national agreement, apply Israeli sovereignty on the Jordan Valley. The Jordan Valley must be the eastern border of Israel, and the Jordan Valley is agreed as the border of Israel both by the Likud and the Labor Party, and Right and Left, and Bibi must do this move and declare and apply Israeli sovereignty on the Jordan Valley.
"And this is the beginning, this is the first step. We believe that the next steps will be sovereignty on the Jewish settlements, and later on the rest of Judea and Samaria, but the beginning must be the Jordan Valley because this is agreed by most of the Israeli society.
"Bibi: Be courageous, move ahead. The Jordan Valley must be declared as the eastern border of Israel, and this will be your heritage," he concluded.