More than 1,000 people gathered in the Shomron community of Emanuel yesterday to take part in a memorial ceremony for the 20 Israelis who were murdered in two separate terror attacks over the past year just outside the town's entrance. Addressing the crowd were Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau as well as Shas party spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Rabbi Yosef told the Emanuel residents that they were "modern-day heroes," that the commandment to settle the Land of Israel was equal to all others, and that Emanuel should one day number a million Jews.



The event marked Rabbi Yosef’s first official visit to a Yesha (Judea, Samaria, and Gaza) community since he announced his support for the Oslo Accords nine years ago. Several Shas Knesset Members also attended the ceremony. Yesha Council Secretary-General Adi Mintz said today that Rabbi Yosef originally supported Oslo "in the belief that it would save lives. Now that it is clear to him that supporting Oslo actually costs lives, he is very supportive of those who are fulfilling the commandment to build up the Land of Israel."



Rabbi Menachem Felix of Elon Moreh, who once spent several weeks protesting outside the home of Rabbi Yosef against his support for the Oslo process, said today, "It is fine and praiseworthy that a leader and a party look at the reality and have the courage to change course if necessary."