Yochai Damri Appointed Head of Shaar Shomron Local Council Amid Planned Merger with Elkana

Yochai Damri, who served for ten years as head of the Har Hebron Regional Council, has been appointed as the new head of the Shaar Shomron Local Council, which includes the settlements of Etz Efraim and Shaarei Tikva. He replaces Avi Roa, who completed his term this week. Damri will serve as an appointed council head until the planned merger of Shaar Shomron with the Elkana Local Council is finalized.

In April, Central Command Chief Major General Avi Blot signed an order to unify the Elkana and Shaar Shomron councils into a single local authority. This order will take effect once the necessary regulations are completed to manage the transfer of employees between the two councils. However, there is strong opposition to the merger from Elkana residents.

Hananel Dorni, who served as the professional project manager for the councils' unification and is a former head of the Yesha Council and Kedumim Council, resigned from his position several months ago. Dorni sent a sharp letter to the Ministry of Interior's director general and Central Command's chief, warning that the government initiative is doomed to fail and will severely harm thousands of residents.