My friend Ron Nachman, the mayor of Ariel, passed away from the disease that scares us all.
Ron was Zionist bulldozer and a modern a pioneer and the power of his vision and persistence to build the city of Ariel, in Samaria, and his tirelessly war to incorporate Ariel into the Greater State of Israel opened the door and reinforced the continuation of settlement in Judea and Samaria.
Ron was an Israeli with a heart full of love of the land of Israel and the State of Israel and he knew the importance of the Jewish state for Jews everywhere. He was the father of EVERY resident of Ariel.
Our friendship goes back 40 years, started immediately after the Six Day War. We kept in touch but ran on different tracks.
Ron was a busy bee; he forever looked for angles that will not clash with the schizophrenic policy of Israel regarding Judea and Samaria so he could accomplish his vision of Ariel’s development and growth. He was relentless.
On one of my visits to Israel my son and I spent the entire day with Ron in Ariel. He closed his office and took us all over the town. We visited the town hotel that was closed and empty because people were scared to stay across the “Green Line.” We visited the budding college and the industrial park that was in its infancy, but the vision Ron had for it. We drove through fenced and barren land among cultivated land and Ron explained to us that the fenced land belong to Arabs and thus it is out of boundaries of the town’s use until the owner will agree to sell it. He was proud that no matter what the world has to say, Israel is not an occupying force, rather an example for respecting human rights and law.
We drove up the hill top and saw the Dan region’s sea shore and the Arab villages that surround Ariel and that gave us the perfect perspective how important Ariel is to Israel’s security.
At the end of the day we ended having late lunch at the town’s main shopping center square. Everyone Knew the mayor and he knew everyone as well. People came up to him and greeted him and he responded. Ron was approachable. No doubt he was Ariel and Ariel is Ron Nachman.
This is the way of life; we lose the dearest to us.
Ron Nachman Triumphs; optimism goes that far:
Ron’s vision was greater than Obama’s vision, which is to establish a Palestinian state on Jewish land. My greatest worry is who will step into Ron’s shoes and continue his fight, to maintain his vision to protect Ariel and defeat Obama’s vision.
Your memory will be blessed, Ron. Continue being the mayor of Ariel from above.
