"One could expect that this lobby would have been redundant by now." On this somber note Knesset Member Arieh Eldad (National Union)
opened the Land of Israel Lobby's first meeting which he heads. The meeting was attended both by MKs from the Likud and
from Kadima.
"After the disengagement
one could have expected that the talk of creating a Palestinian state would be stricken off and that no one would try to take down communities anymore," Eldad said and added, "Once again, talk of two states is being heard and there's a freeze decree. I am convinced that through this unity we can save the Land of Israel."
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| MK Mofaz: Implement 2-state solution as soon as possible / Ynetnews |
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Former defense minister tells Herzliya Conference, 'If we wait another year without any productive steps towards peace, Hezbollah will not allow this calmness to continue.' Elliot Abrams: Arab leaders think West Bank looks like Yemen or Geneva |
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He further added, "The fear that we are still on probation, that there are threats to the settlement's very existence make our job one of serving as a protective wall against these."
The lobby was founded by MK Eldad and MK Zeev Elkin (Likud). The opening event was also attended by ministers Benny Begin and Moshe Kahlon, Likud MKs Carmel Shama and Tzipi Hotovely, and Kadima MKs Otniel Schneller and Zeev Bielski .
"The possibility of creating a foreign, sovereign independent state led by the PLO or Hamas goes
against our right over the Land of Israel and our right to live securely," Minister Begin said, who formerly expressed support of the decision to freeze settlement construction.
"There is information known to government ministers and unknown to the public. Under these circumstances, recognizing reality and standing up for our rights, we will need to work together in the coming months and years."
Habayit Hayehudi chairman Daniel Hershkowitz said that one of the lobby's objectives was to promote legislation which would "strengthen the settlement that already exists in the Torah that unlike parliamentary legislation cannot be annulled. "
According to him, the source of the problems the settlement enterprise is facing is not in legislation but in national awareness. "I hope that the message coming out of here today is that there is a broad consensus among the factions on the matter."
MK Elkin, formerly a Kadima member, said, "The lobby's aim is to support the settlement in Judea and Samaria. Some half of the government members sent their blessings to the lobby. The lobby's objectives are consistent with the Likud platform. We shall remain loyal to the settlement."
Yesha Council Chairman Danny Dayan, who also took part in the event, repeated statements he made Sunday during a cornerstone laying ceremony for a new neighborhood in the South Mount Hebron settlement of Beit Hagai.
"These are days of confusion and disorder. On the one hand one plants a tree and pledges allegiance to the same land where a Jewish home is prohibited from being constructed," he said.
Dayan addressed the lobby members and said, "If I'm allowed a word of advice, the lobby's main role should be to replace confusion with a promise on the timelessness of our hold.
"The lobby's role should be bringing Zionism to the residents of Israel through expansion so a Jewish sovereignty for the entire Land of Israel will grow from there."
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