The Sovereignty Movement expresses its sorrow over the passing of Prof. Moshe Arens, former Ambassador of Israel, Defense Minister and Foreign Minister, an ardent Zionist, one of the greatest lovers of the Land and supporters of the vision of the application of Israeli sovereignty from the sea to the Jordan River.

The movement’s two chairwomen, Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar, remind us of his practical support for the settlement movement in Judea and Samaria, his participation in conferences and lectures organized by the movement and his resolute position that Israel must act only according to its own interests, without fear regarding pressures from the Americans or other sources.

Katsover and Matar also note Prof. Arens’ words in an interview for Issue no. 5 of the Sovereignty Journal, in which he said: “We must take care of our interests and we have essential security interests in Judea and Samaria. We must create our policy according to our own interests”, Arens, obm, emphasized, adding that Israel’s independence and economic condition are strong enough to stand up to any international pressure. “The State of Israel has made great strides. Israel is currently fairly wealthy country that has been experiencing impressive growth for years. It is good to receive aid but we must remember that this aid also serves the interests of the Americans. It is not a gift”, he said at that time.

“As part of the late Prof. Arens’ approach, he advocated the application of the State of Israel’s sovereignty in all areas of the Land of Israel, while assuring the civil rights of members of minorities, as required by Jewish ethics”, note Katsover and Matar.

Prof. Moshe Arens was interviewed by us in November 2013 about the future of Judea and Samaria when he came to give a lecture in Shdema. Here is a link to the short interview with English subtitles:

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