Twenty New Families Settle in Northern Samaria's Hermesh Community

Twenty young families, comprising dozens of children, arrived on Thursday at the settlement of Hermesh in northern Samaria as part of an expansion initiative. A ceremony marked the inauguration of a new neighborhood, alongside the opening of a kindergarten and daycare center within the community. To accommodate the influx of new residents, a caravan neighborhood was established in Hermesh with the cooperation of the Amanah movement.

The Samaria Regional Council presented the move as part of a broader settlement drive currently underway in northern Samaria. Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, welcomed the families, stating, "We salute the veteran residents who overcame terror and hardship. Settlement here is the beating heart of the land; Hermesh will be a huge settlement full of children and construction." He added, "Today we see with our own eyes how the vision of settlement becomes a living, breathing reality. The arrival of 20 new families in Hermesh in one day is a clear statement from the people of Israel: we are here to deepen our roots, to build and be built."

Ze'ev Hever, secretary-general of Amanah, also commented on the expansion, noting the simultaneous establishment of dozens of settlements and the high demand for residency. He explained that new residents are coming from both established settlements and cities across Israel, successfully populating the developing areas. Efrat Pelaheime, a member of the new nucleus, described her arrival as "love at first sight" and expressed hope for continued positive growth.

Roni Mizrahi, chairman of Hermesh, declared, "I am proud to be part of the settlement enterprise. One million residents for Samaria, now it's happening!" The Hermesh expansion is part of the "Connection Program," led by the Samaria Regional Council and Amanah, following decisions by the Israeli cabinet and government, spearheaded by Ministers Israel Katz and Bezalel Smotrich. This program aims to establish 19 new settlements in northern Samaria and is linked to the Samaria Council's "One Million in Samaria" plan.