Jewish settlements are "defence wall", - Defence Minister
Illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank ensure Israel’s security, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced yesterday evening at an event celebrating the Jewish New Year.
In his toast at the event, held in the settlement of Vered Yeriho which overlooks the Palestinian city of Jericho, Lieberman emphasised how settlements were increasingly necessary as Israel faces threats from missiles and cyber-attacks.
"From my perspective, it’s clear that the settlements in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], and those here in the area of Jericho and the Dead Sea, are the State of Israel’s true defensive wall", - he said
Lieberman used the event, attended by numerous settler leaders, as an opportunity to emphasise his commitment to construction in the occupied territories, alleging that he has done more for settlement building than anyone else over the past 17 years.
He referred to his role in granting settlers in Hebron a separate municipal authority to better cater to their needs and his approval of the construction boom witnessed since US President Donald Trump took office, which has seen the marketing of 3,500 settler units and plans to build some 8,000 more.
Lieberman, who lives in a settlement himself, also promised to complete a plan to protect all the settlements with smart fences and better access roads by November.
Source: MEMA