A high-ranking EU official visited Samaria this week. The official, Dr. Fiorello Provera, the Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, was accompanied by Samaria Regional Council Chairman Gershon Mesika, Minister of Information and Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein and Shomron Liaison Director David HaIvri.
The visiting EU official was able to see first-hand the central urban region, often called the “narrow hip” of Israel, and view the strategic importance of Judea and Samaria.
Council spokesmen said that Provera “did not conceal his surprise from the view …and his appreciation for what he saw the visit.”
Provera said, “I arrived in Samaria and observed the security situation for the first time, and this is an important viewpoint,“ he said. No I understand better the size of the country.”
Mesika told him, “Everything we saw earlier [today], such as the importance of a Jewish presence for the security of the existence of Israel,. is true, but the true reason we are here is that this is our inheritance and birthright. A Jewish presence in Samaria is the achievement of the vision of the Prophets. and it will be fulfilled whether or not people try to stop it.”
He called on the European Union to assist Israel “in this historic process.”http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Mesika also discovered that Provera is a Bible, who nodded his head in approval of several comments by the regional chairman.
Five Republican Congressmen visited the Shomron (Samaria) last week, on a guided tour led by Shomron liaison office director David HaIvri, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed of the Har Bracha yeshiva, Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman and others.
The historic visit began with a bus tour led by Mayor Ron Nachman along the Trans-Samaria highway, where the delegates learned about Israel's narrow waste-line, security needs and strategic provisions. At the Ariel and Barkan Industrial Parks Mayor Nachman discussed co-existence, the 4,000 Arabs employed at the factories and the indiscriminate boycotts imposed by the Palestinian Authority and European Union on products from the factories. Mayor Nachman also showed the group the layout of the Ariel Bloc of communities, and the short distance from the Tel Aviv Coastal Plain.
The Congressmen learned about Judeo-Christian teamwork and at Israel's primary outdoor training facility, the Ariel National Leadership Development Center. From there the group proceeded to the Ariel Regional Center for the Performing Arts, where they enjoyed a private performance by Ariel's young singers and internationally renowned dancers.
Before travelling north, the visit to Ariel culminated with the inaugural Samaria Summit luncheon, where municipal leaders, industrialists, business-people and professional athletes from across Samaria and the Jordan Valley gathered to discuss issues of relevance. Lior Shachory, CEO of the Ariel based Incentive Technology Incubator presented some of the R&D at the award winning center, whereas Eldad Halachmi, VP at Ariel University Center, made reference to U.S. State Department boycotts of R&D funding for academic research due to Ariel's location beyond the green line. The Samaria Summit was the first time that a Congressional delegation engaged face to face with the geo-political realities in one of the most media-covered regions in the world.
Rep. Randy Forbes (R -VA-4th) addressed the Summit by stating his unwavering support for Israel's peace and security. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO-5th) discussed Israel's inherent value and the commitment of the Congressional Republican Israel Caucus and the Israel Allies Caucus which he co-chairs. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX-1st), who is known for his instrumental role in arranging for Prime Minister to deliver his acclaimed speech to both houses of Congress in May, 2011, explained how Israel cannot sacrifice its own security by relinquishing land to those who are committed to its destruction. They were joined by Congressman John Fleming (R-LA-4th) and Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH-4th), who shared the sentiments of their colleagues.
Wow, it's been five days since they've been there and the State Department hasn't gotten around to condemning them yet.
I received this via email from the Shomron Liaison Office:
Eliezer Braun of Samaria, Israel will be touring Norway over the next two weeks, promoting an alternate grassroots peace plan for the region known as the “West Bank.” His plan calls for education, democratization, and mutual respect. The speaking tour has been arranged as part of an effort to raise international support before the September 20 UN vote on Palestinian statehood. Mr. Braun argues that a vote for the current plan will create more problems than it solves, with its government-imposed change.
Mr. Braun is the Director of the Shuva Israel’s Interfaith Department, and travels around the world speaking mainly to Christian groups on behalf of Samaria’s communities and raising support for the residents of the “disputed” land. He and his family have been residents of Samaria since moving to Israel from the US in 1983.
Mr. Braun specializes in debunking popular misconceptions about the region and proposes realistic and creative solutions to problems that have plagued the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since its inception. He focuses on the positive impact of the “settlements” on the peace process. On this tour he plans to offer Norwegian citizens clear and abundant reasons to support Israel in the face of worldwide pressure to give up her secure borders to a proven hostile and unreliable “peace partner.”
The Shomron Liaison Office acts as the Samaria region's central representative body to the greater international community.
For list of venues see http://www.yeshuv.org/events/norway-tour-sept-2011
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For more information or to schedule an interview with Eliezer Braun, please contact David Ha’Ivri at 972-3-936-8146 or email haivri@yeshuv.org.
I hope Mr. Braun isn't arrested and/or expelled by the 'tolerant' Norwegians.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
