The Cabinet has unanimously approved the proposal to recognize Havat Gilad as an official community.
Presenting the proposal at the start of this week's Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made the following remarks: "A few minutes ago, I spoke with Yael, the widow of Rabbi Raziel Shevach. I told her that the entire nation and all members of Cabinet embrace her and the children in their time of grief; I also asked her to hug the children for us.
"I told her that our policy is being carried out in two spheres. First, exacting justice. Yesterday our forces were in action once again in an effort to apprehend the last of the assassins and their accomplices in the murder of Rabbi Shevach. We will not rest until we bring them to justice. And we will bring them all to justice."
"Our second policy guideline is to strengthen settlement. Whoever thinks that through the reprehensible murder of a resident of Havat Gilad, a father of six, that he can break our spirit and weaken us, is making a grievous mistake.
"Today, the government will authorize the status of Havat Gilad in order to facilitate orderly life there. For the murderers – exacting justice. In response to those who sanctify death, we will sanctify life. This is the essence of the government's policy.
"Today we will be briefed by the Chief-of-Staff. I have full confidence in the Chief-of-Staff and the IDF. The IDF is the strongest military in the Middle East and this is a good thing because we face so many challenges. As I also made clear to President Trump and afterwards to European leaders and President Putin, our presence here is the main element in the Middle East blocking the spread of radical Islam led by Iran and Islamic State, which also threaten all other elements in the world.
"We are not bent on war, but we will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves," Netanyahu said.