Opening his speech at the Jewish Home Conference, Education Minister Naftali Bennett addressed the controversy over government groups planning to boycott the state ceremony marking the fiftieth anniversary of Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and the Golan Heights.
"The entire nation of Israel is united in the memory of Yosef, Or, and Solomon, may God avenge their blood, who were murdered this morning in a cruel terror attack by an evil person," Bennett said. "In their deaths, with their bravery, they saved Har Adar residents from the hands of the accursed terrorist. Forever in line with the heroes of the nation who fell defending the land, may their memory be blessed.
"At this time, above all, we need unity," Bennett said."In recent days, [Knesset] Opposition parties and the Supreme Court president have announced that they do not intend to attend a ceremony in Gush Etzion tomorrow to mark the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Judea and Samaria and the Golan Heights.
"My friends in the Opposition - this is not the way to act. I think of 8-year-old Yonatan from Eli and 13-year-old Ayala from Ma'aleh Adumim who are being told, 'you're second-class,'" added Bennett..
"Our enemies do not distinguish between [one person's] blood and another's, between Har Adar and Ofra, they want to take all our lives, so I call on the opposition members - do not divide the people, let's stay united," he said. "We have suffered divisions and it is time to unite."
"The reason the opposition gave [for boycotting the event] was that they were not allowed to speak, so I'm willing to give up the four minutes of my speech - just let's be together because we have no other country," Bennett stressed.