It was a high security event on Wednesday, as both President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Hebron to address the state memorial ceremony commemorating 90 years since the 1929 Arab massacre in the holy city.

There were calls from the Hebron Jewish community and right-wing MKs to the Prime Minister to announced renewed construction in the city. The Jewish community in Hebron, which returned after the Six Day Way in 1967, led by Rabbi Moshe Levinger ZT”L, has been moser nefesh, fighting right-wing and left-wing governments for the right to rebuild the holy city. Nevertheless, the Jewish presence in the city is extremely limited in both space and numbers, as Israel gave away most of Hebron over to the PA (Palestinian Authority) are a result of the Oslo Agreements.

PM Netanyahu disappointed the Jewish community, for there was no promise of renewed construction in the city, no promise of reopening the marketplace and permitting the Jews to reclaim previously Jewish areas, as there was nothing other than politically correct remarks, falling short of their expectations.

One of the outspoken critics was former MK and longtime Hebron activist and resident, Orit Struk, who was angry the Machpelah and the shuk area were not officially handed back to the Jewish community, and she is seen arguing with Education Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz, who is more understanding of PM Netanyahu in his position.

אורית סטרוק בביקורת חריפה על החלטת נתניהו בחברון שלא להצהיר על הנגשת מערת המכפלה או חזרת השוק לידי היישוב היהודי: ״בושה״. הרב רפי משיב לה: ״תשמחי על המדרגה שראש הממשלה הגיע לחברון״ pic.twitter.com/7vRVUzVS1L

— סרוגים (@SrugimNews) September 4, 2019

Following is an excerpt from Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks.
I’m proud that one year ago my government approved the plan for the Jewish Quarter, to build dozens of new housing units for the Jews of Hebron. Residents moved into Machpelah House last week. We are also dealing with other important issues that you brought up, regarding accessibility in the Ma’aras HaMachpelah and the realization of the historic Jewish property rights. While we are not coming to banish anyone, neither will anyone banish us. To cite the late Menachem Begin and the late Yigal Allon: ‘Hebron will not be devoid of Jews.’ It will not be Judenrein. And I say on the 90th anniversary of the disturbances – we are not foreigners in Hebron, we will stay here forever. We always remember the eternal call of Calev ben Yefuneh, who was faithful to Hebron, and we act in accordance with it: ‘Let us go up.’”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)