Jewish Home party chairman Naftali Bennett was in Jerusalem Monday for the annual international rabbinical conference, and noted the significance of the yearly event taking place in the ancient Jewish capital.
“We’re in a special era in Israel, an era when people can stand up without apologizing and say: ‘We believe in Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and Torat Yisrael [the Nation, Land and People of Israel – ed.] – we’re proud about it and we don’t apologize to anyone!’”
The sentiments echoed (most likely intentionally) the Jewish Home’s recent campaign slogan, introduced by Bennett himself in a viral video which called on Israelis to “stop apologizing.”
Over 200 rabbis from around the world converged on Jerusalem’s Ramada Hotel for the event. Bennett, who also serves as the Minister for Diaspora Affairs, hailed it as illustrating a recent change in attitude by Israel towards diaspora Jewry in general.
“Israel is taking responsibility for Jews around the world,” he said. “No longer are we only looking at the diaspora as a source for fundraising or aliyah.
“We realize that Jews are going to be living in the diaspora – of course we want them to come to Israel, but it’s our responsibility to take care of them.”
Turning to the upcoming elections, Bennett told how foreign diplomats had been urging him to abandon his opposition to land concessions and the establishment of a 23rd Arab state in Judea and Samaria.
“They say: ‘listen, we get it, you’ve got elections coming up, you’ve got to say the right stuff. But after the elections, if you want to be accepted by the (international) community obviously you have to support a Palestinian state.’”
But he said his response has always been unequivocal.
“I say very clearly… we will not divide Israel, we will not divide Jerusalem. And it’s not about the polls, its about something much deeper – our heritage.”
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