The Jordan Valley Regional Council released a statement expressing its shock and sorrow at the murder of Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi, who they called a \"true friend of the Jordan Valley.\" The Council stated,
\"Gandhi served as IDF Commander of the Central Command during the late 1960\'s during the period when our area became known as \'Land of the Chases\' [referring to the pursuit through difficult terrain of terrorists who infiltrated from Jordan].
\"In addition to his military activities , he led the establishment of the settlement enterprise in the Jordan Valley, was the one to set the locations of the communities, and was even involved in giving many of their names. For instance, Mechola was named after the Biblical town of Avel Mechola, where Elisha the Prophet lived; Argaman was named after Col. Arik Regev and Capt. Gad Manela, who fell in a chase near Patzael; [Gilgal, and others]. Gandhi was known for his love of the Valley, and he initiated the establishment of, and set the location for, the Valley Monument in memory of the IDF soldiers who fell here...
\"Minister Ze\'evi kept up his special bonds with the Jordan Valley throughout the years, and as Knesset Member he served as the head of the Knesset lobby for the region. He always came to every event here, maintained warm and personal relations with the residents, and worked night and day to help fortify and develop the towns and their economies, with great sensitivity, love of man, and love of Eretz Yisrael.\"
In a related incident, in the early days of Har Gilo (south of Jerusalem) - one of the first Yesha communities - then-O.C. Central Command Gen. Rehavam Ze\'evi flew over by helicopter and said to the settlers, \"You don\'t have the proper army permits? You have one hour to be out of here!\" He then flew off - and returned within an hour, saying, \"Here, you can stay, I obtained the permits for you.\"
\"Gandhi served as IDF Commander of the Central Command during the late 1960\'s during the period when our area became known as \'Land of the Chases\' [referring to the pursuit through difficult terrain of terrorists who infiltrated from Jordan].
\"In addition to his military activities , he led the establishment of the settlement enterprise in the Jordan Valley, was the one to set the locations of the communities, and was even involved in giving many of their names. For instance, Mechola was named after the Biblical town of Avel Mechola, where Elisha the Prophet lived; Argaman was named after Col. Arik Regev and Capt. Gad Manela, who fell in a chase near Patzael; [Gilgal, and others]. Gandhi was known for his love of the Valley, and he initiated the establishment of, and set the location for, the Valley Monument in memory of the IDF soldiers who fell here...
\"Minister Ze\'evi kept up his special bonds with the Jordan Valley throughout the years, and as Knesset Member he served as the head of the Knesset lobby for the region. He always came to every event here, maintained warm and personal relations with the residents, and worked night and day to help fortify and develop the towns and their economies, with great sensitivity, love of man, and love of Eretz Yisrael.\"
In a related incident, in the early days of Har Gilo (south of Jerusalem) - one of the first Yesha communities - then-O.C. Central Command Gen. Rehavam Ze\'evi flew over by helicopter and said to the settlers, \"You don\'t have the proper army permits? You have one hour to be out of here!\" He then flew off - and returned within an hour, saying, \"Here, you can stay, I obtained the permits for you.\"