Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein visited the "Oz VeGaon" reserve near the Gush Etzion intersection in Judea today (Monday).
Edelstein's visit was part of an event dedicating a new shopping mall opening at the intersection.
During the visit the Speaker expressed his admiration for the volunteers who have been working to develop the reserve that was established in memory of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaer, and Eyal Yifrah, the three boys who were kidnapped and murdered by Hamas in 2014. Edelstein added that he believes the recent political and diplomatic initiatives to apply full Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria will succeed.
"I very much hope that the places we live in now will always remain under our sovereignty," said the Knesset Speaker, "I think the application of sovereignty in an official and orderly manner is something that will only promote peace by bringing greater clarity to the complex situation in our region."
Addressing the Knesset initiatives, Edelstein said: "I think it's time to promote moves in the Knesset. We've already begun to move in the direction of applying sovereignty to those areas about which there is a very wide consensus in Israeli society. There needs to be a very clear statement made by the Israeli legislative branch that these areas are an inseparable part of Israel, forever."
The Speaker then turned to the "Oz VeGaon" reserve itself. "I'm happy to be here. I remember this place when it was deserted and under threat of evacuation. Now you come and see all the development and beautification and hear that tens of thousands of youths come here to volunteer, have a meaningful experience, and remember the three boys. It simply warms the heart."