First Publication: Senior European Leader Stands with Judea and Samaria

Geert Wilders, candidate for Prime Minister of the Netherlands, began his visit to Israel with a tour of Sha-Nur in northern Samaria, expressing support for renewed settlement in the area. The visit comes against the backdrop of the Dutch government's decision to ban imports from Judea and Samaria.

Geert Wilders, leader of the opposition in the Netherlands and candidate for Prime Minister, opened his visit to Israel this week with a tour of the renewed settlement of Sha-Nur in northern Samaria, as a guest of the head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan. The visit took place against the backdrop of the Dutch government's decision to ban imports of products from Judea and Samaria. Wilders declared: "You are returning to resettle all of Samaria - this is the only way." Dagan added: "We are building our homeland. This is Israel's security belt." Wilders was exposed to the map of the "Connection Plan" for establishing 19 new settlements in northern Samaria. This is Wilders' second visit to Israel in less than two years, and he is expected to continue his tours in Samaria and the Jordan Valley and meet with senior officials in the Israeli government.