Yesha Council Press Release

Yesha Council Announces Plans for

Massive Public Campaign Opposing Freeze Resumption

“We will not stand idly by as a US President forces Israel to commit national suicide.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(JERUSALEM- November 21, 2010) Following a mass demonstration Sunday held adjacent to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria announced that the pressure on the government against renewing any building freeze would only intensify in the comings days.

“This is an effort which is critical not only for the people of Judea and Samaria but is one that should be embraced by all Israelis,” said Danny Dayan, Chairman of the Yesha Council. “Our very national credibility is at stake.”

“Any resumption of a building freeze is a troubling signal of our Government’s weakness and will achieve absolutely nothing in advancing our relations with the Palestinians,” Mr. Dayan said. “Our Government must remember that it was elected to fulfill the will of the people of Israel and not that of the US President.”

The Yesha Council announced a series of measures and activities that will go into effect beginning the morning of Monday, November 22nd including:

- At 10:00 Monday, the Yesha Council will begin operating an emergency situation center adjacent to the Prime Minister’s Office. The center will be staffed by local council heads, Yesha Council executives and residents of Judea and Samaria. The center will orchestrate all efforts aimed at exacting pressure on the political establishment and the general public to prevent imposing any building freeze in Judea, Samaria or any part of Jerusalem.

- The Yesha Council will significantly expand its effort to lobby senior Likud members against any support for the US Government’s proposal to reinstate the building freeze.

- On Tuesday, November 23rd at 1:00 PM, a meeting of all Council heads will take place at the emergency situation center to assess the situation.

“We will not allow our nation to be bribed by a country that we long thought to be a trusted friend and partner. Whatever his intent, the reality is that President Obama is asking Israel to commit national suicide by severely jeopardizing our security needs and we cannot stand quietly by and allow this to happen, “Mr. Dayan said.

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