'Ambassador Nides' statement does not respect Israeli policy'

Binyamin Regional Council head Yisrael Gantz responded to US Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides' statement that he has not and will not visited Judea and Samaria.

"In order to be serious, you need to recognize the facts," Gantz said. "The statement by Ambassador Tom Nides does not respect Israeli policy and is in contradiction to the US statement which recognizes the legality of the Jewish settlements."

"In addition, when dealing with such an important matter in a serious fashion, one must be familiar with the facts from up close. I assume that this is how the Ambassador acts with other issues he is involved in.

"This evening, I sent him an official invitation to come and visit Binyamin, to meet the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who live in Judea and Samaria and who are connected to a history which is thousands of years old, and not to be driven by prejudices."