In a first-of-its-kind meeting between the Yesha Council and a delegation of the European Parliament, it was agreed that a delegation of the latter would tour the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Yesha Council Chairman Adi Mintz explained to the European representatives at the meeting the Jewish connection and ownership over Judea and Samaria. He also showed that Jewish presence in these areas is not in violation of international law.
Yisrael Medad, one of the founding members and former Mayor of one of Yesha's oldest communities - Shiloh - was filmed on the British network Skynews yesterday in his hometown, together with a Peace Now representative. Medad says that he can understand the Palestinian Arabs' desire to have a national anthem, "but not every small group of people deserves a state… They are not going to be the 23rd independent Arab sovereign state."
Medad said that we must "take the long view: This is the heart of the Jewish homeland, the land that was promised to us not only by G-d, but also by the international community… Prime Minister Barak made a more-than-generous offer three years ago, but the Arabs refused, because they're not interested in compromise or in any resolution of the conflict that would leave any Jewish communities [here]."
Yariv Oppenheimer of Peace Now said that Israel must freeze all construction in Yesha and dismantle all outposts. Medad protested: "We are not the reason for the conflict. There were no [Jewish] 'communities' before 1967, yet the war broke out, and terror on the part of the Arabs existed. So we're not a reason for the conflict. Dismantling us will not solve anything."
Medad also contested the claims that Jews had taken Arab land: "We built our community on an empty hill that was not occupied for over 2,000 years. This is our land. It's the most natural thing for a Jew to be living in Shilo. We can live in co-existence as long as there is no terror or violence… They could have had a state in 1947, [but now] I am not willing to go back in time and say that even though they lost the war, they can [have what they wanted]."
Yisrael Medad, one of the founding members and former Mayor of one of Yesha's oldest communities - Shiloh - was filmed on the British network Skynews yesterday in his hometown, together with a Peace Now representative. Medad says that he can understand the Palestinian Arabs' desire to have a national anthem, "but not every small group of people deserves a state… They are not going to be the 23rd independent Arab sovereign state."
Medad said that we must "take the long view: This is the heart of the Jewish homeland, the land that was promised to us not only by G-d, but also by the international community… Prime Minister Barak made a more-than-generous offer three years ago, but the Arabs refused, because they're not interested in compromise or in any resolution of the conflict that would leave any Jewish communities [here]."
Yariv Oppenheimer of Peace Now said that Israel must freeze all construction in Yesha and dismantle all outposts. Medad protested: "We are not the reason for the conflict. There were no [Jewish] 'communities' before 1967, yet the war broke out, and terror on the part of the Arabs existed. So we're not a reason for the conflict. Dismantling us will not solve anything."
Medad also contested the claims that Jews had taken Arab land: "We built our community on an empty hill that was not occupied for over 2,000 years. This is our land. It's the most natural thing for a Jew to be living in Shilo. We can live in co-existence as long as there is no terror or violence… They could have had a state in 1947, [but now] I am not willing to go back in time and say that even though they lost the war, they can [have what they wanted]."