Meeting with New Diaspora Minister MK Omar Yankelevich

Minister for Diaspora Affairs, MK Omar Yankelevich, toured Gush Etzion and met with Yesha Council leaders; Shlomo Ne'eman, Mayor of Gush Etzion region, Israel Gantz, Mayor of Benjamin region, Yochai Dimri, Mayor of the South Hebron Hills region, Rabbi Hillel Horowitz, Head of Hebron’s Jewish Community, and Yesha Council CEO, Yigal Dilmoni.

The meeting discussion focused on the proper way to apply sovereignty in area, as well as the interests of the settlement movement at the present time, the importance of the relationship between Israel and the settlement movement with Diaspora Jewry. Possible collaboration between the Yesha Council and the ministry were broached, and further discussion on the subject was promised. Minister Yankelevich told the participants: "This place is an important part of our ancestral land. The citizens of Israel who live here are by virtue of the Israeli government's decision and must live under complete Israeli sovereignty. The people of Israel owe a debt of gratitude to the people who live here.”