On July 1st, the date when according to the Israeli coalition agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can bring the issue of sovereignty to a Knesset vote, members of parliament from 20 countries signed a statement in support for Israel’s application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. These parliamentarians are chairmen or leaders of the Israel Allies Caucuses in their respective parliaments.
The full letter reads: “We, the chairman of the Israel Allies Caucuses fully support our ally, the State of Israel in her rights to apply sovereignty to the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria."
"We affirm that the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria have been a key part of the biblical and ancestral homeland of the Jewish nation for centuries.
"We maintain that Israel applying Israeli civil law to already existing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria is appropriate and recognizes the democratic wishes of those communities.
"We know that Israel ensures free access for all religions to the important biblical sites in Judea and Samaria, including the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Hebron, the site of Jacob’s dream in Beit El, and the tabernacle’s resting place in Shiloh, among many other religious sites.
"We believe that the application of sovereignty to these communities in Israel will not affect the Palestinian people negatively but rather bring the possibility for peace and prosperity closer to the region. Applying Israeli law to already existing Jewish communities in Israel can be part of a realistic regional peace plan which recognizes current realities”.
Israel Allies Chairmen from the European caucuses in the EU, Slovakia, Romania, Italy, Netherlands, Wales and Finland were among the signatories. Signing this letter was among the first actions of MP Peter Kremsky in his new role as Chairman of the Slovakian Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus, having recently taken over for Marek Krajci when the latter was appointed as Minister of Health. His caucus is one of the most active in Europe with 30 MPs as members. Upon signing the letter Kremsky said, “Judea and Samaria has always been an important part of Israel and Israeli history. I fully support this statement and believe in peace for all people living in these territories.”
The letter was well received in the IAF African caucuses as well, with signatures from Madagascar, Zambia, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. Chair of the Malawi Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus MP Joyce Chitsulo stated, “I am proud to stand in support for Israel’s legal, biblical and historical right to apply sovereignty to the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The Israelis living in these established communities since 1967 deserve to live under domestic Israeli governance instead of military control. The time has come to accept the current reality on the ground.”
In Latin America, Members of Parliament from Mexico and Dominican Republic as well as the caucus chairmen from Argentina, Guatemala, Colombia and Suriname signed the statement. Congressman Fidel Reyes Lee, Chairman of the Guatemalan Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus stated "We want to send a message of support to the State of Israel from the Guatemalan Congress, regarding the application of Israeli civil law to already existing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Guatemala has always been on the side of the Jewish people and the State of Israel at the most important moments in its history, and here we are from the Guatemalan Congress reiterating our unconditional support for the State of Israel".
“This is not just an American phenomenon, all over the world millions of Bible believing Christians are waiting with bated breath to finally realize the dream of sovereignty in Israel’s heartland” said Israel Allies Foundation President, Josh Reinstein. “The courageous leadership of our parliamentary chairmen as demonstrated by their bold statement in support of sovereignty is a testament to the strength of faith-based diplomacy”.