This is a deeply held value of the entire Israeli people, and is not limited to one particular political group. It is this belief that led a Labor government to establish the settlement of Kiryat Arba next to Hebron. It was there that David founded the great Kingdom of Israel . . . It will be a blessing also for the Arab neighbors. Hebron is fit to be Jerusalem's sister.
Zionist ideology continues to influence Israeli policy toward the territories.
The government of Israel has also encouraged Jewish emigration to the territories for political reasons. Especially during the first decade after the Six Day War, the Israeli government encouraged the establishment of Jewish communities in the territories to enhance Israeli security, integrate the newly-won areas into the larger skein of Israeli society, and create legal claims on the land. While this has not been an insignificant factor in increasing the Jewish population of the territories, its importance has been exaggerated. Most of the growth in the Jewish communities of the West Bank has been in areas close to the urban centers of the country. This indicates that the primary factor spurring population growth has been the search for a better quality of life, not the political machinations of the Israeli government.