We are happy to present you with our 14th Sovereignty bulletin, sent to members and supporters of our Sovereignty Movement. You are invited to read, get updated and join:
Dear friends,
Greetings.
Another week has passed in the month of July, the month when the government of Israel is supposed to begin the process of sovereignty. We, at the Sovereignty Movement, are not necessarily part of those who are impatient and criticize the government for the days that have passed since the start of the month without sovereignty. We are seriously trying to understand the real reason for the delay.
If in fact, as we are told by senior officials, the delay is caused by the Israeli effort to obtain American agreement for an outline of sovereignty in accordance with Israeli interests, meaning that it does not include agreement to a Palestinian state and a freeze in Jewish communities and causing some communities to become enclaves, then we are grateful for the delay and for the healthy steps of sovereignty that coordinate with the Zionist vision. On the other hand, If the delay stems from political-coalition pressures and a surrender to the dictates of the Blue and White party and the ministers of Labor, then we do have criticism for the lack of leadership that this reveals.
In recent days, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has reported on discussions that he is having with dozens of European foreign ministers in preparation for the first steps of the Trump plan, which he views as a plan whose goal is separation from three million Palestinians, in his words. Minister Ashkenazi’s words are very concerning and disturbing, because they also show that accepting the plan will also mean accepting the scheme whose purpose is to establish a Palestinian state, Heaven forbid. We shall object to such a scheme extremely vigorously in every way. Together with you, we will mobilize the political forces from the coalition and from the opposition to fight for the future and integrity of the Land.
Six Years to Oz veGaon
Last Friday we commemorated the sixth anniversary of our ascension to the ground of the Oz veGaon preserve, the preserve that was established in memory of the three youths who were abducted and murdered, Gil-Ad, Eyal and Naftali, Hy”d. Dozens attended the event, including Racheli Frenkel, the mother of Naftali, whose moving speech can be seen and read on the Sovereignty website.
We view the Jewish holding at Oz veGaon as a very powerful symbol not only of revival and flourishing from grief and bereavement, but also of the essence of sovereignty. Before we arrived at the preserve aided by dozens of activists and volunteers, the place was abandoned and neglected, a center for criminal activity by Arab youths from the surrounding villages, a place lacking law and order. Since we came to the preserve and began our educational and practical activity, the place became a point of light spreading a sense of security and serenity over the entire area, a center of growth and flourishing, clinging to the Land and building, education and activity.
This is true also for Israel’s sovereignty in its Land. The stronger and more assertive Israel’s sovereignty, the more the place will bloom and flourish. Every place where Israel withdraws, pulls back and fails to take steps of sovereignty, Heaven forbid, becomes a lawless place, a place for terror, neglect and crime.
We have been able to make the wonderful change in Oz veGaon over the last six years, thanks to you, dear supporters and contributors, who girded yourselves for the task and helped with ideas and contributions to restore the place, to make it operational, to upgrade it and to add more and more equipment and initiatives to turn the place in what it is today. Those who are interested in having the merit to join the circle of activity at the preserve and to contribute to it are invited to contact us directly or click here: http://womeningreen.org/how-to-help/
To watch and read the remarks made by Racheli Frenkel on the sixth anniversary of the preserve, click here.
To me, Sovereignty is…
And this time, as he resumes his activity in Knesset this week, our guest columnist is Member of Knesset Ariel Kellner (Likud):
“To me, sovereignty is the realization of the dream of generations of the Jewish People and returning the Land that was stolen from the Jewish People to its rightful owners. Especially these days, the days of the 3 weeks “between the straits”, when we mourn the loss of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel, the application of sovereignty is a great correction. We must not miss the opportunity”.
Sovereignty is Cool
And it turns out that sovereignty is “viral”, too. In the special petition-signing campaign that was carried out throughout the entire Land, the Sovereignty Youth succeeded to get more than a thousand youths to sign a petition calling on the Prime Minister to apply sovereignty without recognizing a Palestinian state.
The petition-signing campaign won much media interest and positive coverage. The youths who participated in the campaign tell of fascinating meetings with youths and adults at the petition-signing booths. The interest in the younger generation volunteering on behalf of the vision is much gaining momentum, interest and admiration. We have no doubt that indeed, the next generation of Israeli leadership is developing here.
Read extensively about the petition signing campaign and view the pictures:
Marching to the Mountain
The days “between the straits” begin this week and we are already prepared for you to register for the 26th traditional Tisha BeAv Walk around the Old city walls, which this time, due to Corona limitations, will be held with the limited format of no more than fifty people and maybe less, depending on the instructions closer to the date.
The Walk is only permitted because the event occurs periodically every year. Events that are not repeated periodically have been cancelled by the police. For this reason as well, it is important to keep the embers of the march burning, even if it will be limited in scope, so that the chain of tradition will not be broken for future years, if the Messiah has not arrived by then.
Since it is very important for everyone to participate, we will have a live broadcast of the walk on the Arutz 7 web site and on our Facebook page. In this way, you can be an integral part of the walk, you will be able to hear the reading of Lamentations, to follow the progress of the walk and hear the explanations and descriptions by historian Aryeh Klein, who, as in every year, will lead and reveal historical details to us on various points for the length of the walk.
So who will be the 50 people who will merit to walk on this year’s walk? The first 50 people who will raise 1000 nis ($300) in order to help us to cover the cost of the event. Although the walk will be of limited scope, the expenses of producing it are not substantially reduced (sound, live broadcast, fencing, ambulance, accompanying vehicle, etc.). It is also possible to sponsor a walker. A donation of a thousand shekels ($300) will make a young man or woman from the Sovereignty Youth Movement your personal representative in the walk. If you are interested, please email us at [email protected] and we will email you more details.
From Mourning to rebirth and sovereignty
Immediately after Tisha B'Av, Sunday August 2nd,, we will please G-d, hold the Summer Sovereignty Youth Seminar, and it will also be held in a limited format with as many participants as the Health Ministry allows.
The seminar will include as speakers MK Bezalel Smotrich, historian Dr. Hagi Ben Artzi, Yoel Silberman, CEO of Hashomer Hadash, and more. This seminar will be for the serious youths who will be part of our future leadership.
Connecting to Jewish History
Please note that we are now in the final days of registration for the Archaeological Camp at Oz veGaon.
Only the first 25 applicants will be accepted to the first phase of the Archaeological Camp, which will be held for four days, from August 3-6, 2020 led by a professional archaeologist. We thank our friends from AFSI for the sponsorship.
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Shabbat shalom,
Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar