Perpetuating his memory. This evening (Wednesday) the cornerstone laying ceremony for the new settlement of Ofir was held in the name of the head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council Ofir Liebstein, hy"d, who was murdered in the October 7 massacre by Hamas murderers.
The occasion was held with the participation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu together with the Minister of Construction and Housing Yitzhak Goldknopf and the heads of the councils of the Gaza Strip envelope. Those present spoke in praise and the courage of the late Ofir Liebstein, and how he fought bravely, together with his son Nitzan, z"l, in the battles against Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Shabbat Simchat Torah.
In the words Netanyahu gave to the heads of the councils of the Gaza Strip envelope: "You went through, we all went through, but you went through very difficult days here. Comrades who were murdered, leaders who were murdered, male and female fighters, policemen, policewomen, male and female soldiers. It is simply unbelievable what happened here on that day of supreme test. The people of Israel held on to their land, repelled the murderers, the monsters, and now we are in the middle of the action that will continue until the end."
"Boys and girls will grow up here who will be educated on his contribution, heroism and sacrifice"
"We established a state, we established an army, we established settlements, we established cities, we took in immigrants - but the battle continues," said Netanyahu, "100 years and more, the battle continues. It continued even more here on that terrible day and we can win. This construction is expressed in what we are doing now. We name the settlement after the late Ofir Liebstein. A leader, a man of the Land of Israel, a man of construction, a man of settlement. Here, boys and girls will grow up who will be educated about his contribution, his heroism and his sacrifice.
"We continue to build - not one settlement - but many settlements, here in this place. We are building, and we will continue to build, here and everywhere in the Land of Israel. We will restore the settlements, expand the settlements and add more settlements."
The head of the Sdot HaNegev Regional Council Tamir Idan, the mayor of Sderot Alon Davidi, the head of the Merhavim Regional Council Shay Hajaj, the head of the Eshkol Regional Council Gadi Yarkoni, the acting head of the Shaar Negev Regional Council Yossi Keren and the head of the Ashkelon Beach Regional Council Itamar Ravivo participated in the event. Also participating were the head of Tkuma Directorate Moshe Edri, the commander of the Home Front Command Major General Rafi Milo, the Head of Staff Tzachi Braverman, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary Major General Avi Gil and the Director General of the Prime Minister's Office Yossi Shelley.