Minister of Agriculture (Yisrael Beitenu) Yair Shamir and MKs Zevulun Kalfa and Orit Struk of Bayit Yehudi on Monday 27 Teves visited the Hebron area, including the Machpelah and the surrounding area. Struk is a veteran resident of the holy city.

They began the visit in S’dei Kalev, which belongs to Menachem Livni, who has been working that land and growing cherries for over 20 years. Livni told his guests that the residents of the neighboring Arab village, Banai Naim, regularly harass him and do what they can to make his life difficult. He explains this is a regular occurrence, usually several times weekly, including setting structures ablaze and destroying his crops. He added that of late, ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) agents arrested members of a terror cell who planned to murder him and use the return of his body as a negotiating tool to obtain the release of terrorists.

“We can only build a nation with emunah” Minister Shamir responded, adding “the government must do more to assist this special people like him.” Shamir added it is particularly important in the Southern Hebron Hills area but he refers to all areas of Israel for Jewish agriculture he explains is essential to maintain control of the land.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)