Mordechai Sayeed, Kiryat Arba Council Member and Activist, Warns in Interview to "Eretz Yisroel Shelanu:"
"Opening the Tzion Road to the Arabs Endangers Hundreds of Thousands of Jews Coming to the Meoras Hamachpelah."
"The Jewish nation must rise up and resist this new decree that threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jews by endangering the roads to the Jewish Settlement in Chevron and Meoras Hamachpela."
Mordechai Sayeed, you are one of the leaders of the struggle against opening the road, and have been active in security for many years. What makes the opening of this road so dangerous?
"The IDF, backed by political elements, want to open the Tzion Road - which joins Chevron and Kiryat Arba- to Arab traffic. This is the only road that is available for Jewish traffic, and is used by hundreds and thousands of Jews daily. During the holiday seasons, tens of thousands of Jews frequent the road.
"This road has been closed as a security measure for many years, after many citizens and security personnel were victims of attacks. The army knows that opening the road is a security threat and dire danger, but there are those who are bowing to pressure by local Arabs. We were promised that only local Arabs will have access to the road, but we know what will become of that promise: the road will be open for all, and the danger will be great."
What is being done to prevent this from becoming a reality?
"We will not rest for a moment! This is a real life threatening danger! We are discussing different measures, such as a permanent Jewish presence on the road, with shifts changing all down the road. We are also working on the political front, pressuring the religious MKs. We are also going to alert world Jewry to the danger; after the Chevron Accords we were left with only 3% of our Jewish lands, and now they want to take more away from us, thereby endangering the masses coming to Chevron! Security is top priority, and as elected officials we will do all in our power to abolish this decree.
"I take this opportunity to call on Noam Tibon, Commander of the area, who is top notch in overseeing the destruction and outposts and is proud of himself, to get involved and prove to us that he is committed to our security."
Have there been improvements in the development of the settlements since the new government has come to power?
"Sadly, we haven't seen any changes. The opposite is true. From updates that we have heard, the Olmert government's policy is continuing, and all developments are frozen. We don't have any hopes for this government, but we do hope that they will approve new buildings to accommodate the natural growth of the settlement. We will have to struggle to make inroads; 'Eretz Yisroel is acquired through tribulations', and with Hashem's help we will be successful."
What is being done to deepen the nation's connection to Chevron?
The Hachnasas Orchim in Chevron, the kollel network, and the mass visits in Chevron on special days, are all part of the tireless work of my co-workers in the municipality, the Kiryah Neemana organization, the Chesed Committee headed by Rabbi Yisroel Bramson and Boruch Marzel.
"Our current project is to make sure that every single student in the educational system gets to visit Chevron at least once during the course of his schooling. Chevron is Yerushalayim's older sister, the resting place of our forefathers and the cradle of our history.
"Rabbi Bramson is doing noteworthy work in supporting the hilltops and assisting the Yesha residents. We assisted 1,000 families in Yesha this past Pesach.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful pamphlet "Eretz Yisroel Shelanu" for continuously strengthening the nation's connections with Chevron. May you be blessed by Heaven." |
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