Land of Israel Lobby
Land of Israel LobbyHezki Baruch

The Knesset Land of Israel Lobby, headed by MK Yoav Kisch and MK Bezalel Smotrich, held a conference in solidarity with the Jewish community of Hevron on Monday.

The meeting was also attended by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and Minister of Education Uri Ariel, Minister Yoav Galant, Minister Ayelet Shaked, Minister Zeev Elkin, Minister Ofir Akunis, Minister Aryeh Deri, Deputy Minister Tzipi Hotovely and Deputy Minister Eli Ben Dahan.

The members of the Knesset were Avi Dichter, Amir Ohana, Osnat Mark, Oren Hazan, Moti Yogev, Miki Zohar, Nurit Koren, Sharan Haskel and Nissan Slomiansky. Ben Yosef, head of the Binyamin Council Yisrael Gantz, Yesha Council director general Yigal Dalmoni, head of the Samaria council Yossi Dagan, and Kiryat Arba council head Eliyahu Liebman.

The participants expressed deep solidarity with the roots of the Jewish people in Hevron, support for the Jewish community and unequivocal commitment to the continued existence, security and prosperity of Hevron, as the city of the forefathers, as an inseparable part of the Jewish people's return to Israel.

Lobby leader Yoav Kisch opened the conference. "Tomorrow there is a conference of organizations on the left against the Jewish settlement in Hevron, and that is precisely why we came to strengthen Hevron and the national public. Hevron is the heart of the Jewish community, an integral part of the land of Israel and the people of Israel. We will certainly continue to strengthen sovereignty where our patriarchs and our matriarchs are buried. We have a commitment to strengthen the roots of the Jewish people instead. This house looks at the inhabitants of the Jewish community as emissaries. At the end of December we have to decide whether to extend TIPH's mandate and I want to issue a call - it's time to send them back to the countries they came from. They do nothing but damage. TIPH's mission was over long ago. I would tell TIPH to go home."

MK Smotrich said: "Hevron is a litmus test. What is happening in Hevron shows our Jewish pulse. On the left they understand very well that if Hevron grows and develops, the entire settlement will grow and develop, so they invest in harming Hevron. But they will continue to shout and complain and we will continue to build and reach our masses and connect with our roots. I thank the settlers who do wonderful things there and friends in this house who express an unequivocal commitment to Hevron."

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said: "The left is organizing the 'Hebron first' conference tomorrow, and they are trying to harm Hevron because Hevron is the heart of the Jewish community in Israel. Anyone who has seen the tens of thousands of Jews on Shabbat Chayei Sarah understands what Hevron means for the people of Israel. We gathered here to strengthen everyone's Hevron, because only our Hevron will guarantee it the status it deserves - Hevron is the city of the patriarchs of all, and only we can develop the Hevron of coexistence. G-d willing, the Jewish community in Hevron will grow and flourish."