The South Har Hevron communities celebrated 20 years of renewed settlement last night in the town of Shim\'ah, 13 miles northeast of Be\'er Sheva. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon honored the participants with his presence, assuring them that Israel would remain there forever. He emphasized that the diplomatic process would not be renewed until there is a \"total cessation of terrorism, violence, and incitement.\" Sharon also said that Jewish communities throughout Yesha are the best solution for providing security, and called the residents the “true heroes of today\" who provide protection for the State of Israel. \"Perhaps I made a mistake when I spoke in the past [only] about the security importance of these hills,\" he said. \"The primary thing to emphasize is our historic and inalienable right to this place.\"
Har Hevron Regional Council head Tzviki Bar-Chai told Arutz-7 that organizing the event last night was a complex endeavor: \"We are 15 yishuvim (communities); half of them are religious and half are not, and some of them are located deep inside the area while others are on the \'front,\' such that it was tricky putting everything together. But together, with joint efforts, we did it - in fact, \'B\'yachad\' [together] was the theme of the event - and the result is that we had an evening of tremendous inspiration, and one which gave us the strength to have an even more productive 20 years ahead of us...\" Bar-Chai was happy that Prime Minister Sharon was present: \"I spoke to him on Friday when his office informed me that he would not be coming. I told him that he must be present so that he could gain strength and give us strength - in that order.. When he came, he heard strong but respectful words from both [Kiryat Arba\'s] Rabbi Dov Lior and from myself, and I believe that he came out with increased strength to fight the war that he will have to manage. On the other hand, the residents also gained new strength that will help them face the challenges and the dangers... It\'s not that they are kids. People who live in Otniel, or Beit Haggai, or Maaleh Chever know exactly why they are here, their roots are deep in this Land; a remark here or there by a Prime Minister is not what will make or break them...\"
Mayor Bar-Chai was then afforded the opportunity to list the achievements of \"his\" settlers, and fired off the following: \"We began with the community of Beit Yatir 21 years ago, and the latest towns are Sansena and Negohot. We have large schools and yeshivot, such as a hesder yeshiva in Otniel, a girls\' institute in Maon, a yeshiva high school for environmental studies in Susia, a pre-military yeshiva in Carmel, a children\'s village in Beit Haggai, an intensive yeshiva-studies high school in Maaleh Chever - first-rate institutions that the demand to study in them is 130% of what it was last year... We have first-rate agriculture, including a very advanced nursery and orchards, we have developed an advanced tourism site in Susia, a new industrial zone, and much more...\"
Har Hevron Regional Council head Tzviki Bar-Chai told Arutz-7 that organizing the event last night was a complex endeavor: \"We are 15 yishuvim (communities); half of them are religious and half are not, and some of them are located deep inside the area while others are on the \'front,\' such that it was tricky putting everything together. But together, with joint efforts, we did it - in fact, \'B\'yachad\' [together] was the theme of the event - and the result is that we had an evening of tremendous inspiration, and one which gave us the strength to have an even more productive 20 years ahead of us...\" Bar-Chai was happy that Prime Minister Sharon was present: \"I spoke to him on Friday when his office informed me that he would not be coming. I told him that he must be present so that he could gain strength and give us strength - in that order.. When he came, he heard strong but respectful words from both [Kiryat Arba\'s] Rabbi Dov Lior and from myself, and I believe that he came out with increased strength to fight the war that he will have to manage. On the other hand, the residents also gained new strength that will help them face the challenges and the dangers... It\'s not that they are kids. People who live in Otniel, or Beit Haggai, or Maaleh Chever know exactly why they are here, their roots are deep in this Land; a remark here or there by a Prime Minister is not what will make or break them...\"
Mayor Bar-Chai was then afforded the opportunity to list the achievements of \"his\" settlers, and fired off the following: \"We began with the community of Beit Yatir 21 years ago, and the latest towns are Sansena and Negohot. We have large schools and yeshivot, such as a hesder yeshiva in Otniel, a girls\' institute in Maon, a yeshiva high school for environmental studies in Susia, a pre-military yeshiva in Carmel, a children\'s village in Beit Haggai, an intensive yeshiva-studies high school in Maaleh Chever - first-rate institutions that the demand to study in them is 130% of what it was last year... We have first-rate agriculture, including a very advanced nursery and orchards, we have developed an advanced tourism site in Susia, a new industrial zone, and much more...\"