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Netanyahu opened his address at the 6th Annual Jerusalem Conference  by emphasizing the importance and even more, the obligation to keep Jerusalem a united city, an obligation that is historical but also strategic and security-mandated..

“In this hotel, there are mingled feelings of joy and sorrow. Several stories above where we are sitting Rehavam Zeevi, a minister in the Israeli government and lover of Jerusalem, was murdered here several years ago, said Netanyahu. “I say this because the issue of Jerusalem has not been adequately discussed in this election campaign.”

To better understand the different parties positions regarding Jerusalem, Netanyahu advised checking out their previous deeds: “Look at what the candidates and their parties have done. We have never taken any action to undermine the unity of Jerusalem, even when faced with vociferous international pressures”,  said Netanyahu, and mentionerd to the crowd’s applause the decision to build the Har Homa neighborhood.

Netanyahu also spoke of the importance of connecting Maaleh Adumim to Jerusalem and added: “A Jewish neighborhood was built next to the  Mt. of Olives and there was tremendous criticism, but that’s the way things have to develop.”

“The Palestinians brought the offices of the Palestinian Authority to Jerusalem and we closed them leaving them only as a symbol, the Orient House”, Netanyahu reminded the  audience, adding that  he tried to close that too, but was prevented by the High Court from doing so.

“They tried to take another step, to conduct a population census in Jerusalem and we were surprised to find that  no law prevented any foreign agent from doing so. I then charged Knesset members with passing a law within one day that would allow us to block the Palestinian Authority from conducting the census, and thus we showed our fidelity to  an undivided Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, and we will continue in this way.”

Netanyahu described the reality that would evolve if Jerusalem were divided: “A meter from this hotel would be an Iranian  military base. And you  know what that means.”

“They tell us that to have peace with our neighbors, we must leave the Temple Mount.  I said already in 1995 that radical Islam will bring down the  Twin Towers because it is one of the most conspicuous symbols of Western democratic ideas.”

“If they wanted to harm the place that best symbolizes the religious heritage of the West,, Judaism and Christianity, where would they strike?” asked Netanyahu and answered, “Jerusalem-  we have already seen that  these radicals have no bounds.”

“Whoever says that making concessions on the  Temple Mount will bring peace is wrong. It will bring the exact opposite”, said Netanyahu, promising to keep Jerusalem undivided