Sartaba painting above – Marc Provisor
The flag of the Jewish state was raised for the first time at Mount Sartaba in the Jordan Valley, the site of an ancient Hasmonean fortress, during a ceremony led by Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu on Monday.
The ministry’s move was part of a series of symbolic actions across Judea and Samaria aimed at strengthening Israel’s hold on heritage sites in the historically Jewish but unfortunately disputed area.
“We at the Heritage Ministry, together with the [Defense Ministry Civil Administration’s] Archaeology Unit, are not only content with words, but take action. When there is presence, there is Jewish strength. The message is that we are retaking what is ours,” Eliyahu told JNS.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has initiated an unparalleled effort to expand Israel’s control over Judea and Samaria. The installation of a large Israeli flag on Mount Sartaba may serve as only a symbol, yet it conveys significant meaning as it represents yet another action in a sequence of measures leading up to the declaration of full sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. The more Israel asserts its legal claims, the clearer the message becomes.