From an Israel National News article before the march: A rally planned for Thursday afternoon between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem will send a critically important message to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, as well as to United States President Barack Obama, Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon has said. The rally will send a message of support for the Israeli government allowing Israelis to build homes in the strategic E1 area, which links the Jerusalem suburb of Maale Adumim to Israel's capital. There is no doubt that Washington will be watching, Danon told Arutz Sheva. "It is important that the Americans observe the events, and that they realize that there are limits to what a government led by the national camp can do," he said. "I think that in the situation we are in today, there is great significance to an event like this," he said. Senior political leaders from the Knesset and the coalition will be present, he said, "and will tell the Prime Minister that there are things we cannot agree to, and one of those things is [dividing] Jerusalem." "I'm sure they will follow this event in Jerusalem and in Washington, and it's a good thing, too. The message needs to be heard loud and clear," he said. "The Prime Minister, too, who will sit down with President Obama next month, needs to make it clear that he represents a certain population, with certain values," Danon continued. "With all due respect to the pressure Obama applies, when it comes to matters like compromising on Jerusalem and evacuating Jews, that is something that [Netanyahu] cannot do even if he were to agree. "I hope he doesn't agree," Danon added. "But even if he does, he needs to realize that politically speaking, there are things that can't be done."

• published: 13 Feb 2014
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