Thousands Join Tours of West Bank Farms in Settler Initiative

An initiative promoting tours of agricultural farms in the West Bank has attracted over 40,000 Israeli participants, according to reports. The project, spearheaded by Finance Minister and Deputy Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich, aims to connect the Israeli public with newly established farms in the region.

The initiative, initially revealed by C14 News, began as a quiet effort involving Smotrich, regional councils, and settlement organizations. Its goal is to foster a connection between Israelis and the agricultural outposts that have been set up over the past two years.

The tours, which have been running for four consecutive days and are scheduled to continue, include hundreds of organized excursions. Participants have comprised families, youth groups, pre-military academies, and various community organizations from across Israel. The program is largely funded by the Religious Zionism party's budget, allocated to bolster young settlements and agricultural tourism in the West Bank, aligning with broader policies of settlement expansion and countering illegal Arab land appropriation.

During the tours, visitors meet with the farmers' families, explore open areas reclaimed from illegal takeover, and learn about the settlement movement's expansion efforts. Smotrich's office stated the objective is to re-engage the Israeli public with Area C of the West Bank, providing both economic and ideological support to the farms while fostering a direct connection to the land and settlement activities. The significant increase in visitor numbers reportedly followed the initial publication of the initiative, which generated a surge in inquiries and demand for tours.