Yisrael Gantz leads Binyamin delegation, meets with Gilad Erdan
Yisrael Gantz leads Binyamin delegation, meets with Gilad ErdanChaiim Tuito

A settlement leader led a delegation to New York City for meetings with supporters, a day after the delegation took part in the Arutz Sheva Jerusalem Conference in New York.

Donations for the development of Jewish towns in the Binyamin district of Samaria, such as for outdoor sports courts, public buildings and programs for at-risk youth are some of the goals that Binyamin Regional Council Governor Yisrael Gantz achieved during his visit to the United States.

The Binyamin Regional Council advocacy delegation was a significant part of the Arutz Sheva Jerusalem Conference in New York. Binyamin Regional Council Governor Gantz joined the delegation for three days, from Friday to Sunday, and met with donors and partners of Binyamin in the American Jewish communities.

The American partners of Binyamin will contribute to the development of towns in Binyamin, with donations for outdoor sports courts, for the renovation and construction of public buildings such as synagogues and ritual baths, and for creating programs for at-risk youth.

“Our relationship with Jews overseas strengthens and connects us and them. We live in Binyamin and are developing this region, not as a personal endeavor, but as emissaries of the Jewish People, and we are part of the Return to Zion process. The partnership with our friends strengthens this shared feeling and provides a major boost to the development of the towns and to meeting the needs of the residents. This time, too, we were warmly welcomed and launched meaningful partnerships for the betterment of Binyamin.”

Binyamin Council invited its main partner, One Israel Fund, to the conference held this past Sunday, and presented the fund the Beloved of Binyamin award, for its contribution to the development of Binyamin over the past 30 years.

The Binyamin advocacy delegation at the conference included Psagot Winery owner and CEO Na’ama Berg, who presented wines produced from grapes grown in the Binyamin hills. Binyamin wines are considered among the best in the world, winning international prizes year after year. Media celebrity and right-wing activist Nataly Dadon also joined the delegation, alongside Binyamin Regional Council International Desk Director Eliana Passentin and political advisor on Israel-US relations Ruthie Lieberman.

Gantz addressed the conference, saying, “The State of Israel is deepening its roots throughout Judea and Samaria. This is manifest in the plans for expanding the network of roads and the extensive plans for increased housing. There are fewer voices calling for the weakening of Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria, and thanks to you, these voices are becoming irrelevant. In our conversations with Democratic senators and congressmen who visited Israel, they realize that things have changed, and return home with many lessons on things they did not know and had not experienced before. This makes a difference and we feel it on the ground.”

At the Celebrate Israel Parade held this past Sunday, Gantz spoke with New York Mayor Eric Adams, who supports Israel, and who accepted an invitation from Gantz to visit Israel.