Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein is planning to pre-empt a conference scheduled to take place in the Knesset this Tuesday that will call for the eviction of the Jewish settlement in Hebron, by holding a counter-event the previous day in support of Jewish settlement in Hebron.
The anti-settlement event, organized by MK Michal Rozin (Meretz) and Joint Arab List Chairman Ayman Odeh and MK Dov Khenin, was originally scheduled to take place on Nov. 26. The original invitation referred to "a destructive reality of violence" caused by a "cruel segregation regime" to accommodate a "handful of settlers."
As speaker, Edelstein authorizes all conferences held at the Knesset, and postponed the event because Czech President Milos Zeman was visiting Israel and was due to address the Knesset plenum the same day.
But he was unable to prevent the event from being held entirely. Associates of Edelstein's said MKs from the Meretz and Joint Arab List parties had tried to trick Knesset authorities into allowing them to hold an event in which representatives of leftist organizations B'Tselem and Breaking the Silence, the activities of which the government vigorously opposes, were invited to participate. Other organizations invited to the event include Peace Now and Yesh Din.
In deciding to hold a counter-event, Edelstein said, "It's bizarre to me that certain Knesset members would dare to question the right of the Jewish people to settle in the land of their forefathers."
MKs Yoav Kisch (Likud) and Bezalel Smotrich (Habayit Hayehudi) are helping Edelstein with the event to promote strengthening settlement in Hebron.
