Gush Etzion Council Chief Sha'ul Goldstein says that though Gush Etzion is constantly growing and looking for further growth, "I will continue to fight against the disengagement from Gush Katif and northern Shomron, and do not wish to relate to other possibilities [such as where the residents will live]."
Minister Herzog visited today in Gush Etzion, the bloc of Jewish communities south of Jerusalem and north of Kiryat Arba/Hevron. He toured the area with Goldstein, including in Gvaot, where they discussed plans for a new city that might be built there. "Though it's more in thought than in deed at present," Goldstein later told Arutz-7, "we're talking about 3,000-5,000 housing units. Gvaot has the largest land potential in Gush Etzion."
G'vaot, located in the northwestern corner of the Etzion bloc, is currently the site of a yeshiva and a handful of families associated with it.
Goldstein released a statement of welcome to Minister Herzog, noting his long-standing familial ties to the region: "The community of Masuot Yitzchak that fell during the War of Independence [and was later relocated near Ashkelon, where it continues to thrive today – ed.] was named for his grandfather, Israel's Chief Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevy Herzog. The academic college in Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut is named for his uncle, the late Mr. Yaakov Herzog. And his father, the late President of Israel Chaim Herzog, planted a cedar tree near the ruins of Masuot Yitzchak."
Goldstein also stated, "Specifically during this period of increasing estrangement among various sectors in our society... [we] call to put a stop to this dangerous erosion. We ask the Minister to transmit to the Prime Minister a call to lead a substantial change in the public discourse. We expect a responsible leadership to lead to moderation and prevent disproportionate responses, even when the atmosphere is stormy. At the same time, we also ask the media to leave the extremes alone and to concentrate on the center."
It appears, as well, that Gush Etzion will be surrounded by a partition fence. Some feel that this indicates the intentions of the present government to retain the area in any future agreement.
Minister Herzog visited today in Gush Etzion, the bloc of Jewish communities south of Jerusalem and north of Kiryat Arba/Hevron. He toured the area with Goldstein, including in Gvaot, where they discussed plans for a new city that might be built there. "Though it's more in thought than in deed at present," Goldstein later told Arutz-7, "we're talking about 3,000-5,000 housing units. Gvaot has the largest land potential in Gush Etzion."
G'vaot, located in the northwestern corner of the Etzion bloc, is currently the site of a yeshiva and a handful of families associated with it.
Goldstein released a statement of welcome to Minister Herzog, noting his long-standing familial ties to the region: "The community of Masuot Yitzchak that fell during the War of Independence [and was later relocated near Ashkelon, where it continues to thrive today – ed.] was named for his grandfather, Israel's Chief Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevy Herzog. The academic college in Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut is named for his uncle, the late Mr. Yaakov Herzog. And his father, the late President of Israel Chaim Herzog, planted a cedar tree near the ruins of Masuot Yitzchak."
Goldstein also stated, "Specifically during this period of increasing estrangement among various sectors in our society... [we] call to put a stop to this dangerous erosion. We ask the Minister to transmit to the Prime Minister a call to lead a substantial change in the public discourse. We expect a responsible leadership to lead to moderation and prevent disproportionate responses, even when the atmosphere is stormy. At the same time, we also ask the media to leave the extremes alone and to concentrate on the center."
It appears, as well, that Gush Etzion will be surrounded by a partition fence. Some feel that this indicates the intentions of the present government to retain the area in any future agreement.