New Hebron Hills Memorial Honors Fallen From Early Settlement to Recent Conflicts
A new memorial honoring the fallen of the Hebron Hills was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by bereaved families at the foot of the regional council building. The monument commemorates those who died from the early days of the renewed settlement in the area through to the recent "Iron Swords" military operation. It was established through the initiative of the Hebron Hills Regional Council in partnership with the National Insurance Institute, with input from council representatives, local residents, and bereaved families.
Designed by architects Ido Hildesheimer from Sansana and Nesia Altshuler from Susya, the memorial features three symbolic elements: a raw concrete wall representing community strength and deep connection to the land; a perforated metal partition shaped like bricks reflecting the unique building tradition of the Hebron Hills; and metal bricks bearing the names of the fallen. The path between the concrete wall and metal partition symbolizes the historical journey across generations and the right to live in the land thanks to the fallen. A central inscription quotes Isaiah: "And from you shall come forth the foundations of the earth; from generation to generation they shall arise."
Hebron Hills Regional Council head Eliram Azulai addressed the families, acknowledging their ongoing pain and describing the memorial as not only a remembrance but also a catalyst for good deeds inspired by the fallen. Council CEO Dror Dotan emphasized that the names etched in stone are the living engine of the entire Hebron Hills community. Bereaved parents Rami Ben Meir and Riki Berkovitz spoke on behalf of the families, expressing their resolve to transform grief into constructive action and citing Naomi Shemer’s song "Song of the Father" and a new verse honoring Lt. Col. Shay Peizam, who fell in the recent war. They thanked the council and the Hebron Hills community for their continuous support and remembrance of the fallen and their families.
