In just one afternoon, I’d fallen in love with the strong pioneering attitude of the residents, the winding roads and lush greenery and bright homes, and the magnificent sunset panoramas of Einav. It is a place so vital to the pumping heartbeat of the Biblical Heartland, and a place well worth protecting.
I am Jewish and my Jewish identity is key to who I am. It is key to what my nation is and it is key to the existence of Israel. We will not apologize for being. We will not apologize for defending ourselves. We will never tire of the attempts to seek peace with our neighbors but in so doing we will never deny who we are. I am Jewish and I am proud of it. And if there are those who hate me because I am Jewish, so be it. I will not apologize for who I am.
The people of Tekoa gathered the strength to keep going, working, building, believing that settling the land and raising children in the Biblical heartland, with their strong values, are the best ways they can contribute to Israel’s future.
A person who takes a gun or explosives or a knife and seeks out victims whom he doesn’t know, who have not harmed him in any way, who do not threaten his safety and security, and who murders those people in cold blood — this is a horrific crime that has no place in human society. This is murder and there can be no understanding and no acceptance of this act.