PNN/ Bethlehem/

The West Bank Israeli settlements council and the municipality of Ma’ali Adumim illegal settlement, and the settlement lobby in the Knesset, have started a new campaign, demanding that Israelis sign a petition to add the settlement to “Israel.”

The campaign ad, published Sunday in the Israeli daily Haaretz, promoted on Facebook, and placed on banners at the entrance to Jerusalem and around the Knesset, had the slogan “Continuing in their Path,” in reference to the three: ex-Israeli president Shimon Peres, ex-prime minister, Ariel Sharon and ex-prime minister Ehud Barak.

The campaign tells Israelis to support imposing Israeli sovereignty on Ma’ale Adumim, with or without an agreement.

As reported by The Jewish Press website, the full statement by Perez said: “The development of Ma’ale Adumim will secure the defenses of Jerusalem”; late prime minister and destroyer of Jewish Gaza Ariel Sharon: “Ma’ale Adumim will be built as part of the State of Israel for eternity”; settlements foe and former prime minister, Ehud Barak: “Everything you build in Ma’ale Adumim remains part of the State of Israel forever, period”; and the destroyer of the Jewish city of Yamit, the late Menachem Begin: “I bless the establishment of Ma’ale Adumim. The only viable option is our rule in Judea and Samaria.”

Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal in international law and have faced sharp condemnations from the UN, US and international bodies. However, Israel is still expanding settlements everyday, and is unlikely to give them up.

In a recent interview with Al-Quds newspaper, right wing Israeli minister of army, Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel will not give up the settlements or exchange lands for peace. Instead, it will keep the big settlements and will only give back the areas it does not need, mentioning Umm Al-Fahem town near Akka as an example.