Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) came Thursday to express her support for protesters at a protest tent erected by the heads of local authorities in Judea and Samaria and bereaved families opposite the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem.
The protesters are demanding spending to improve Judea and Samaria's security apparatus and road infrastructure, including bypass roads which will allow Israeli residents to avoid the most terror-prone routes.
Hotovely said: "In my eyes this struggle represents the most important fight of the Judean and Samarian communities, the fight for security, for saving lives, the fight which is based on the obligation to guard life. I came firstly to tell the bereaved families - including Hadas Mizrahi who is truly a heroine, and one of the reasons the attack [in which her husband Baruch Mizrahi lost his life] could have ended differently is the matter of cellphone reception in Judea and Samaria - that a whole list of actions must be taken by the government and that Yossi Dagan, Shevah Stern who are sitting here with me are fighting for a fundamental, important and lifesaving matter."
She added that "In my opinion, this matter should be at the top of our list of preferences as people who aim to strengthen the communities. My promise to you is regarding to two aspects. Yesterday I met with the prime minister and he promised me explicitly: He promised that he was allocating 800 million NIS for this important issue of paving bypass roads which can save lives, as well as lighting, cellular reception and all the things which can improve the situation. Our job as public representatives is to anchor this decision in executive acts and to find a source for funding and I hope that this will be resolved in the coming days."