PM planting tree in Ma'aleh Adumim last week
Photo: Amit Shaabi
PM: Ariel integral part of Israel
Netanyahu continues to plant trees in settlements for Tu B'Shvat, and promises Ariel residents to continue building and developing the settlement. 'We want to deepen coexistence with neighbors, but this won't stop us from going on with our lives here'
After planning trees
in Kibbutz Kfar Etzion and Ma'aleh Adumim for Tu B'Shvat,
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
arrived in Ariel, with a promise that the settlement would not be detached from Israel under any circumstances.
"The capital of Samaria, Ariel, will be an integral and inseparable part of the land of Israel and the State of Israel in any future peace agreement. We plan to help it develop," he said.
The prime minister added, "We are planting three elements here: Strength, the settlement and culture. This is the heart of our land, here is where our forefathers were, here is where we will stay and build. Alongside the Ariel University Center we will also build a cultural center to complete it."
He stressed that Israel strives for peace: "We seek to deepen the peace and coexistence with our neighbors. But this will not stop us from going on with our lives here, and continuing to plant and build. Adva Anter, who lost her two brothers in the (2002) Mombasa terror attack, I wish you rejoice and plant many more branches, here in Ariel will your children and grandchildren live."
On Thursday, US President Barack Obama accused the Israeli Right and Hamas of torpedoing the peace process.
Obama was asked about the delays in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and said, "I think Prime Minister Netanyahu is actually making some effort to try to move a little bit further than his coalition wants him to go."
Obama said that he believes President Mahmoud Abbas truly wants peace but needs to counter Hamas, which does not recognize Israel and uses violence.
