Danon: Israel won't freeze settlement building

At Moskowitz Prize ceremony, deputy defense min. says "stopping building does not result in peace and we will continue to build.”

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Mosokowitz Prize ceremony 370 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Mosokowitz Prize ceremony 370
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
During an award ceremony for the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism, Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon drew rousing applause by pronouncing that Israel will not institute a construction freeze, haredim will be drafted into the IDF and thousands of soldiers will be stationed on Mount Scopus.
The ceremony, now in its sixth year, was held Thursday night in the Tzurim Valley, at the foot of Mount Scopus, before an audience of hundreds, including Tourism Minister Uzi Landau and Construction and Housing Minister Uri Ariel.
“There will be no building freeze,” said Danon from a lectern atop a dais, his image illuminated on a large screen. “We have proven in the past that stopping building does not result in peace and we will continue to build.”
Danon went on to say that he plans on moving thousands of soldiers from around the country to be stationed on Mount Scopus, and that he will ensure that ultra-Orthodox Jews serve in the IDF.
“We will move thousands of soldiers to Mount Scopus and they will live beside hundreds of Jewish families that are making sure to preserve the Jewish presence here,” he said.
“We will take steps to ensure that haredi citizens serve in the IDF to share the burden,” he continued, to loud applause. “There will be protests, but this is what we must be done for Zionism.”
This year’s recipients included Rabbi Moshe Levinger, Yigal Cohen-Orgad, Amotz Eyal and Michal Barkai, who will divide the $100,000 prize. At the ceremony, Cherna Moskowitz explained why she and her husband, Irving, created the award.
“This award was established to honor those who put Zionism into action in today’s Israeli society, at times risking their own personal security, placing the collective before personal needs and doing what it takes to ensure a strong, secure Jewish homeland,” said Moskowitz.
She added that none of the recipients saw themselves as heroes but as people “who simply fulfill their duty, as an Israeli, to make Israel a better place, a safer, more just place, and at the end of the day – a more Zionist home.”