The four members of the National Union party toured the City of the Patriarchs on Monday, and issued a call to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to follow in the footsteps of Jewish heroes before him.
Though Defense Minister Ehud Barak had previously approved their visit to the Arab-controlled areas of Hevron, he rescinded it on Sunday evening and announced that they could visit only the Jewish areas. Such a visit does not require prior permission, however.
Despite the incident, the four MKs – National Union leader Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh), Uri Ariel, Dr. Aryeh Eldad, and Dr. Michael Ben-Ari - and their aides visited the Machpelah Cave and Beit Hadassah in Hevron. They also walked up to the border between the PA-controlled area known as H-1 and Israeli-controlled H-2.
Katz said, “We wish to issue, from here, a two-fold call to our Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu. Firstly, we ask you to stand strong like a boulder, with strength and courage, against the pressures that face you from world leaders. Be like those heroes of the People of Israel all through our history, beginning with Abraham, who is buried here, and Moses, Joshua, Samson, and King David, who ruled Israel from here for seven years.”
Katz’s second call centered specifically around the city of Hevron: “We demand that the entire city, and not just the 3% that comprises H-1, be opened to Jews. This is the city in which King David began his kingdom, and where Abraham bought the Machpelah Cave and the field around it for 400 silver coins, thus turning this city into the first Jewish town in the Land of Israel – a symbol of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel even more poignant than Tel Aviv. How can it be that in this city, 97% of its area is closed to Jews?!”
Barak Reneges
The four MKs and their aides had asked specifically to visit the H-1 area of Hevron. They received a response, signed by Barak’s assistant, Ruth Barr, approving the visit. “The request is approved and instructions have been given to the IDF,” the brief approval stated.
Responding diplomatically to Barak’s reversal, MK Katz said, “The dishonorable style of the Defense Minister is to be regretted.”
Katz noted that in modern times, Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, was a strong supporter of a Jewish Hevron. In 1970, Ben-Gurion wrote, “Don't forget: The beginnings of Israel's greatest king were in Hevron… we will make a great and awful mistake if we fail to settle Hevron, neighbor and predecessor of Jerusalem, with a large Jewish settlement, constantly growing and expanding, very soon. This will also be a blessing to the Arab neighbors. Hevron is worthy to be Jerusalem's sister.”
The army has announced that Zion Route, connecting Hevron with neighboring Kiryat Arba, is to be opened to Arab traffic. The subject of large Jewish protests because of the security dangers this will entail – several Jews have been murdered in terror attacks along and near this route – the opening was to have occurred last week, but has not yet happened.