Jerusalem will remain united forever, Prime Minister Binyamin said Wednesday, specifically referring to east Jerusalem neighborhoods that were targets of international criticism in his speech to the Knesset Wednesday.Speaking at the special plenum meeting in honor of Jerusalem Day, Netanyahu mentioned newer parts of the city, like Ramot, Har Homa and Gilo, as well as sites of historic significance like the Old City and Mount of Olives.The prime minister recalled growing up in a much smaller Jerusalem.
"It was a capital under fire without a way out and with a narrow horizon, and in one day, it all changed. The walls fell and we flowed in a human wave to the Western Wall," he recounted.Netanyahu said his government works to take care of both "upper Jerusalem" and "lower Jerusalem," the expressions for its spiritual and physical manifestations."Torah will certainly come out of Zion," the prime minister said, paraphrasing Isaiah, "and there are many yeshivas, but hi-tech also comes out [of Jerusalem] in Har Hotzvim."Jerusalem was united 47 years ago and will never be divided again," Netanyahu concluded.Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein kept politics out of his speech focusing on the euphoria and pride Jews around the world felt after the Six Day War."Jews stood tall. They were proud to be Jewish, to go to synagogue, to walk around with a kippah, to speak Hebrew and dream about aliyah," he said. "A prince was born named 'Jerusalem of Gold.'" Edelstein said Jerusalem belongs to every Jew, near or far, believer or non-believer, left or right."There is no deeper consensus than Jerusalem," he added.Netanyahu tells Knesset: Jerusalem was reunited, and will never be divided
In a special Knesset session honoring Jerusalem Day, the premier marveled at the development and growth of the capital.
