On Thursday, June 8, about 1,000 youth attended the 5th annual Youth Sovereignty Movement convention in Jerusalem. The focus of the event centered around the demand for the application of sovereignty in the Jordan Valley first, followed by the application of sovereignty throughout Judea and Samaria. The convention was attended by Knesset members, rabbis, and many public figures who joined in the call of the Sovereignty Movement, in addition to congratulatory videos sent by ministers and other Knesset members to the convention attendees.
Also participating in the convention, which was moderated by Noam Jacobson, were co-chairs of the Sovereignty Movement Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar, chairman of Sovereignty Youth, Hod Fisherman, former Labor Party minister Avraham Katz-Oz, CEO of the Yesha Council Shira Liebman, head of the Beit El Council, Shai Alon, media personalities Yotam Zimri and Noam Fathi, and other public figures.
Yehudit Katsover, co-chair of the Sovereignty Movement, related how the convention reflects the objective upon which the Sovereignty Movement was founded. According to Katsover, “We are overjoyed to see the amazing youth who are participating and say: “The Land of Israel – we love you, we will protect you.’ What touched me the most, I had tears in my eyes, was when I saw the Neve Dekalim Ulpana in attendance. The reason we established the Sovereignty Movement was to prevent a recurrence of the expulsion from Gush Katif and the expulsion from northern Samaria. Sovereignty will protect the Land of Israel, it will protect the settlement enterprise. Sovereignty will provide another legal and political authorization. With God”s help, just as in the Golan Heights and in Jerusalem, the world was not overturned and nothing happened.”
“We are beginning with the Jordan Valley. This is the eastern wall of the State of Israel and it must be strong. There is a broad consensus regarding the Jordan Valley. It is not an issue of Right and Left, It is clear to everyone that we must be here. Gantz also spoke about it at the time, the Prime Minister spoke about it, and opposition Knesset members proposed legislation on this issue. The Jordan Valley will be, with God”s help, under Israeli sovereignty, it’s only a matter of time. Of course, we are not relinquishing Judea and Samaria, but we are taking one step forward because the chance is greater in the Jordan Valley,” Katsover said.
Nadia Matar, co-chair of the Sovereignty Movement, added that when they called to invite participants from previous conventions, many responded that they wanted to attend, but could not because they were busy. “One is in a cadet training course, another is in an officer training course, and yet another is in a different course. All of them are in key positions to lead the State of Israel. In this room are a future prime minister, a future defense minister, economic leaders, judicial leaders, future mayors of new cities, and more. Sovereignty Youth is grooming leaders who know that the land is ours and that we must not relinquish it leaders who do not hesitate, and who know that Sovereignty must be applied in the Jordan Valley first, and then in all the areas throughout Israel. It is very exciting to see that our future is so bright with such amazing youth. “Let us go up and inherit it for we can prevail over it”” (Bemidbar 13:30).
MK Yossi Taieb (Shas), who participated in the conference, congratulated the many young people who attended and said: “I can tell you that the future of the State of Israel is not in our hands in the Knesset, but in your hands – the future generation of the State of Israel, all of you who work on behalf of Sovereignty throughout the State of Israel, in Judea and Samaria, in the Jordan Valley and in each and every place, it is incumbent upon us to apply Israeli sovereignty. With God”s help, we will need your strength because the more that you support us and exert pressure, we will all take action to see that Israeli sovereignty is applied throughout the Land, very soon.”
MK Avihai Boaron (Likud) also participated in the convention and said: “We are merely following you. You run ahead, you know the truth, you know where to go, and everyone is following you. The youth have the resourcefulness, without complicated considerations, and without the complicated politics. There are demands and there is truth. You young people have an important role to play. With G-d”s help, all of us will witness together the redemption of the land in the near future, amen.”
The head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, David Elhiani, said at the convention: “Applying Sovereignty in the Jordan Valley first is a national, security, settlement and existential interest. I believe that applying Sovereignty will protect the State of Israel and not only from a security perspective, and not only from a settlement perspective but also from an existential perspective. I call on the Prime Minister and the government. This is a full-fledged right-wing government. This is a historic moment. Raise the banner and apply sovereignty over the Jordan Valley.”
In addition, ministers who could not attend due to scheduling conflicts sent videos that were screened during the convention in which the ministers encouraged the youth who attended. Justice Minister Yariv Levin (Likud) said in a video of support to the Sovereignty Movement that “The Land of Israel, did, does, and will always belong to the people of Israel, as its name indicates. I am convinced that the joint effort that we have been exerting over the years to promote and strengthen our hold in the country and responsibly facilitate the application of Israeli law throughout the Land of Israel will ultimately produce results.”
Transportation Minister, Miri Regev (Likud) also joined in support and said: “There is no doubt about the importance of the Jordan Valley from a security, geopolitical and political perspective. Together, we have a mission: to realize the application of Sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and in Judea and Samaria. With the help of G-d, we will take action and succeed.”
A member of her party, Culture and Sports Minister, Miki Zohar, added: “The Jordan Valley is a strategic area with unique landscapes that we must develop and strengthen. If we want to finally abolish the idea of a Palestinian state, the Jordan Valley is the key. I am proud of you for the way, the discussions, and the ideology. I am proud of you for the path you are taking. I am proud of your ideology. With the help of G-d, we will continue to act together and preserve the Land of Israel, the People of Israel, and the Torah of Israel.”
Settlement and National Missions Minister, Orit Struk (Religious Zionism) also expressed her support: “The Jordan Valley is the most important place for the application of Sovereignty because it is, in fact, the place that secures our current eastern border. Therefore, your gathering here today and your continued activity are crucial. It is important that you know that our government established the issue of sovereignty as part of its agenda. It is found in the guidelines of the government and it is found in its political program as an objective when it will become politically possible. There is an excellent chance that we are on the way to achieving that objective.”
Earlier this week, on Monday, the Sovereignty Movement sent a letter to the heads of the coalition parties in which they requested to take action for the application of sovereignty in the Jordan Valley. In their letter, Katsover and Matar congratulated the leaders of the coalition parties for passing the budget and approving the return to Homesh. They stated: “Now, the time has come for the next, necessary step: the immediate application of Sovereignty in the Jordan Valley in particular and in Judea and Samaria in general.” The two explained the unique window of opportunity. The sovereignty vision has considerable support in the government, the coalition, and among opposition MKs as well. This is a one-time opportunity that it is impossible to know when it will return when there is a full-fledged right-wing government that supports the application of Sovereignty. Likewise, there are additional supporters of sovereignty in the ranks of the opposition, as well.”
