Nationalists scored a diplomatic coup this week a visit to Samaria by
an official of the EU, which funds many left-wing pro-Arab groups.
Dr. Fiorello Provera, vice chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
European Parliament, was escorted by Samaria Regional Council
chairman Gershon Mesika in the rare visit and first of its kind tour
to Jewish communities in Samaria by a high-ranking EU official.
Minister of Information and Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein and
Shomron (Samaria) Liaison director David Ha’Ivri also accompanied
Provera on the trip, which was kept secret beforehand.
The visiting EU official was able to see first-hand the central urban
region, often called the “narrow hip” of Israel, and view the
strategic importance of Judea and Samaria.
Council spokesmen said that Provera “did not conceal his surprise
from the view …and his appreciation for what he saw the visit.”
Provera said, “I arrived in Samaria and observed the security
situation for the first time, and this is an important viewpoint,“ he
said. No I understand better the size of the country.”
Mesika told him, “Everything we saw earlier [today], such as the
importance of a Jewish presence for the security of the existence of
Israel,. is true, but the true reason we are here is that this is our
inheritance and birthright. A Jewish presence in Samaria is the
achievement of the vision of the Prophets. and it will be fulfilled
whether or not people try to stop it.”
He called on the European Union to assist Israel “in this historic
process.”
Mesika also discovered that Provera is a Bible, who nodded his head
in approval of several comments by the regional chairman.
"Tours of this type are changing peoples’ views about the reality in
Judea and Samaria,” said Minister Edelstein. “There´s nothing like a
tour in Samaria to understand that some of the stigmas and
preconceptions were wrong."
