Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who has been touring Israel since Sunday, paid a solidarity visit on Tuesday to Samaria at the invitation of local authorities.
During a visit to the “Balcony of Israel” observatory, which overlooks the Jewish state’s central region from the western Samaria town of Peduel, Haley delivered a message to the residents of Judea and Samaria.
“We are here today in this beautiful place to show solidarity with Israel, and I want to tell you not to listen to what the media says,” she said.
“Most of the American people support Israel. These words are directed at Israelis but also at Americans: We need a strong Israel.”
She went on to state that the only way Israel will be strong “is if the U.S. supports Israel completely and unapologetically,” adding, “There are two things we need to do—ensure the hostages return home quickly and make sure Israel is safe once and for all.”
The people of the United States “will always be friends of Israel. Be strong, stay hopeful, and keep the faith—and let’s continue to be partners together,” she said.
The tour was part of the public relations effort by Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan to combat the delegitimization of Israel in general and of its presence in Judea and Samaria in particular.
During the stop in Peduel, Haley received a security briefing on the strategic importance of civilian development in Samaria for Israel’s security and the security implications of rising terrorism in the region.
Dagan showed Haley the distance from Samaria to Ben-Gurion Airport, which can be seen from Peduel.
“Politicians who say they want to remove Samaria, our hills and our communities from Israel’s map are leaving Israel with only nine miles from the bottom of the hills we are standing on to the coast. It is ridiculous and makes it impossible to defend Israel,” he said.
“Your visit is important,” he told Haley, adding that she and presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump were “true friends” of Israel.
“The State of Israel, and certainly Samaria, face ugly attacks and an unprecedented delegitimization campaign. It is of utmost importance to explain the situation accurately,” Dagan said.
Knesset member Danny Danon, who was Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations during Haley’s tenure there, told reporters, “After the fronts on the south and the north, Iran is trying to open another front within Israel in Judea and Samaria. The Iranian octopus is developing into a monster that Israel must stop.”
It was of “immense importance that American officials understand these security challenges Israel faces and the importance of settlement for Israel’s security,” he said. “The towns in Samaria are the bulletproof vest of central Israel and the Sharon settlements.”
On Monday, Haley delivered a similar message of support to residents in the southern town of Sderot, where Hamas terrorists murdered scores of Israelis during its Oct. 7 terrorist onslaught from the Gaza Strip.
In photos posted to social media, Haley was pictured writing a message on an artillery shell on the Lebanon border that read, “Finish them! America [heart symbol] Israel always” and then signing it.
Writing on artillery shells is a long-standing tradition in the Israel Defense Forces Artillery Corps.
On Wednesday, Haley met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
“I held a meaningful discussion with former Governor Nikki Haley about the importance of strong U.S.-Israel ties in the face of our common enemies, led by Iran. Hamas and Hezbollah not only attack Israel, they attack our shared values and way of life,” Gallant said after the meeting.
“Nikki, thank you for your leadership and friendship,” he added.
