Among the thousands of visitors to Chevron during recent days was Education Minister Gideon Saar. According to a report from Chevron official David Wilder, the minister spent hours in the holy city, making stops at the Machpelah and other areas.

He also taught a class on citizenship in a Kiryat Arba women’s school, releasing the following statement;

“I am particularly happy to be at Ma’arat HaMachpelah and in general in Kiryat Arba and Chevron.

“Chevron is the place of our roots, a place that speaks to all Jews.

“I’ve always said, and I’ll say also today: The Arabs shouldn’t fool themselves that Jews won’t live in Chevron. Jews will always live in Chevron. Throughout the generations, Jews lived in Chevron, with a very few brief exceptions, such as after the 1929 massacre and Jews will always live in Chevron and Kiryat Arba.”

Wilder added that the minister mentioned the masses arriving at Ma’arat HaMachpelah, which he witnessed: “Look at how many Jews are arriving here, at Ma’arat HaMachpelah, on a regular weekday, and many more will be here during the holidays. This proves the connection of the Jewish people to this place, and our guarantee to this continued bond is settlement. From our awareness of this bond to such places like Ma’arat HaMachpelah we understand the value of settlement.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)