US politician promotes home ownership in settlements

By Raphael Ahren, Haaretz – 17 Nov 2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128732.html

An influential Jewish community leader and Democratic state assemblyman from New York is currently heading a mission of about 50 Americans through the West Bank and East Jerusalem to promote home purchases in the area and to protest U.S. President Barack Obama’s Middle East policy.

“Our goal is to send a clear message to Washington and President Obama that Jews will continue to live in Judea and Samaria and the ultimate commitment American Jews can make is to actually come and buy property in these areas as this will ensure these communities’ security and growth,” said Dov Hikind, 59, who has been representing parts of Brooklyn since 1983.

Hikind said he “absolutely” intends to buy a home in Nof Zion, a new Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem.

Hikind dismissed the argument that American buyers can hardly be called natural growth. “We’re Jews and we care. I’ve always wanted to own something in Israel; it’s been a dream of mine and of many Jews,” he said. “For now, if a Jews wants to buy something in the land of Israel there shouldn’t be anything that says you can’t buy in a particular area because Jews should not live there because that area has to be segregated.”

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