Dozens of families of terror victims sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday night, stating their support for Israel to apply sovereignty to its West Bank settlements.
The letter was initiated by Hadas Mizrahi, the widow of Israel Police Chief Superintendent Baruch Mizrahi, who was killed in a shooting attack in April 2014 while on his way to Hebron.
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The families of terror victims call on the prime minister to apply Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank
(Photo: Yariv Katz)
U.S. President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan, unveiled last week, includes Israeli sovereignty over its West Bank settlements, and Netanyahu said in the immediate aftermath of the plan's roll out that he would bring the issue for cabinet approval within days. He later backtracked in the face of American opposition to the move.
The letter was signed by dozens of bereaved families from the "Choosing Life" forum, including the families of Hallel Ariel, Ronen Lubarsky and Raziel Shevah.
"In recent days, we have felt great concern at the delay in the historic step of applying sovereignty in Judea and Samaria [West Bank], a significant and critical step for the entire nation of Israel that has been delayed because of the upcoming elections in Israel, and because of internal affairs at the White House," the letter read in a direct appeal to the prime minister.
"We address you as bereaved families who have lost the most precious thing of all. As you know, international support for the application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria is not a given, and this is something for which we have all been waiting for many years. We fear in our hearts that this historic opportunity can quickly become a tremendously missed opportunity.
"We, the bereaved families, are appealing to you not to miss out on the historic opportunity and add another achievement to your tenure by applying historical sovereignty," the letter said, "for we all know that an international atmosphere similar to the one that exists today is unlikely to come around again in the future."
The letter continued: "Let us be the last to pay the heaviest price of all. Bring the issue of sovereignty to a government vote this week and bring full security to Judea and Samaria and therefore the whole country once and for all."
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Yossi Dagan and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting in Washington last week
(Photo: Samaria Regional Council)
The call was echoed by Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who accompanied Netanyahu on his recent trip to Washington in order to lobby U.S. lawmakers on the issue of sovereignty.
"It's time to apply sovereignty," Dagan said. "Any delay could [be felt] for generations. The bereaved families' call is unbelievably moral."
"This is a moral and fundamental call," said Hadas Mizrahi. "The bereaved families - who paid the most expensive price of all for a lack security and sovereignty in the area - are no longer prepared to stand by. We call on the prime minister to keep his promise and apply sovereignty."
Heads of councils in the West Bank established a protest tent near the Knesset on Tuesday, calling on Netanyahu to apply sovereignty in the West Bank in the coming days.