PM promises no more uprooting of settlements
PM Netanyahu arrives at event marking 50th anniversary of Jewish settlement in W. Bank area of Samaria, promises: 'We returned here to stay forever, there will be no more uprooting of settlements.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Monday evening at the central event marking the 50th anniversary of Jewish settlement in the West Bank area of Samaria. Addressing the crowd, Netanyahu said that "we are here to stay forever," and promised, "there will be no more uprooting of settlements in the Land of Israel."
Thousands of residents of Samaria came to the Barkan Industrial Park to attend the festivities, titled "Lights of the Jubilee," attended by many senior politicians.
"This is the inheritance of our forefathers, this is our country," Netanyahu said at the ceremony. "We came back here to stay forever. There will be no more uprooting of settlements in the Land of Israel.
Netanyahu went on to explain that, other than the right he says that the Jewish people have on the land, uprooting settlements does not help promote peace.
"We uprooted settlements, and what did they get? We got missiles," he noted. "That will no longer be the case."
Netanyahu stated he also says this to the foreign leaders who visit Israel. "Imagine that on these peaks there were extremist forces of Islam. It would endanger us, but it would also endanger you, and all of our neighbors—the entire region and in fact the entire Middle East.
"In light of everything that is happening around us in the Middle East, one can only imagine the results (...) so we do not give up or fold—we keep hold of Samaria. In defiance of those who want us to uproot—we will deepen our roots, build, strengthen and settle."
Minister of Education and Chairman of the Bayit Yehudi Naftali Bennett backed Netanyahu's statement.
"The prime minister spoke about not uprooting settlements and I want to say—do not uproot the rooted, but if you did then replant that which you uprooted," Bennett said. "What led us here is the spirit of the pioneers, but what leaves us here is love, great love. But in order for it to grow, we need to nurture it and we need to see more of it, more neighborhoods and more new settlements.
"From here I call on the prime minister that the hand that signs for people's prosperity will be a light and lenient one. Or, better yet, that we will no longer have to sign at all, and that construction in Judea and Samaria will be unfettered. It cannot be that 50 years we (residents of the West Bank—ed) are here, and are still considered as second-class citizens.
"The time has come for you, Mr. Prime Minister, to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria from now on."
During the event, the head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, said: "We returned to the place of our origin. We returned here forever and ever. This is a day of celebration not only for the residents of Samaria, but for all the people of Israel."
Dagan then addressed the families of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who attended the ceremony.
"The bereaved families of Samaria sit here with us. We will never forget your devotion (…) The Salomon family is sitting with us today, and the Goldin family is with us. We are all with you in calling for the return of the soldiers Hadar and Oron."
Dagan then turned to the prime minister, asking him to give the residents of Samaria "the strength to realize the Zionist dream."
"Samaria is crying out for new settlements," Dagan said. "Dear Prime Minister, The settlement is desperate for renewed construction in Judea and Samaria. Twelve years ago, five settlements were uprooted for nothing. I turn to you, prime minister; it is in your power to correct the folly and return those people home."
