Israel Labour leader tours, pledges support for, West Bank settlements

Israeli Labour party leader and Zionist Camp chair, Avi Gabbay, toured illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank yesterday, hosted by a regional settler leader in the Jordan Valley.

Gabby met with settlers, including those who farm land exclusively reserved for the residents of Israeli settlements, as well as Israeli military commanders.

Speaking to journalists, the Labour leader said: “We want to hear the citizens and security personnel in the field as part of the input to our security plan, which is being formulated together with professionals with the best expertise.”

“With us, security considerations will never be confused with party considerations.”

Read: Israel to vote on annexing illegal West Bank settlements

Local settler leader David Elhayani praised Gabbay’s visit as “important and of much significance”, adding: “It’s clear to all that the Jordan Valley will always be part of the State of Israel, and that the State of Israel includes the Jordan Valley.”

Elhayani continued: “The ideals of Zionist pioneering are brought to life in the Jordan Valley. I’m sure that the visit will be helpful to settlement in the Jordan Valley and help bring about continued expansion in the region.”

Settlement – Cartoon [Sarwar Ahmed/MiddleEastMonitor]