Herzog: Amona Residents 'Virus'

Jerusalem, 14 November, 2016 (TPS) -- Amona residents wasted little time responding to Opposition Leader Yitzhak Herzog’s (Zionist Camp) assertion on Monday that residents of the settlement outpost are a “virus” that has caused extensive damage to the State of Israel.

Speaking to Army Radio, Herzog said that coalition efforts to retroactively legalize Amona and other unauthorized outposts in Judea and Samaria is a “stain” on the State of Israel. The comments followed Herzog’s assertion earlier this month that he would no longer seek to join a unity government with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, as well as his speech on the Knesset floor Sunday at a memorial session for assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in which the opposition leader seemed to accuse Orthodox and right-wing Israelis of incitement to violence that led to Rabin’s murder.

Amona residents were quick to respond.

“After accusing half the country of murdering Rabin, and after portraying the elected prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, as an inciter who bears responsibility for the murder, Herzog chose to attack Amona residents, at a time they are fighting for their homes and their futures.

“Amona residents are not a ‘virus.’ As Ehud Barak said just two days ago, ‘Amona residents are raising families. They are some of the most talented, dedicated people to building the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria. They are people of faith, perseverancee and action’,” the residents said in a statement.

“We are not germs, we are people, despite the fact that we belong to the nationalist camp. [Herzog’s] divisive campaign will not weaken our justified fight for our home, nor will it destabilize our elected officials’ right to pass the ‘legalization bill’ in order to express the majority’s desire to formalize the legal status of Israeli citizens who live in Judea and Samaria.”