New Israeli Settlement Established in Samaria in Under a Week

The first families began moving into the new Israeli settlement of "Rom Gilboa" on Thursday, located in the northern Samaria region overlooking the Jordan Valley, east of the settlements of Ge'im and Kdumim. The establishment ceremony is scheduled for the afternoon.

Rom Gilboa is the eleventh settlement established in Samaria in less than a year and the third to be founded this week. This rapid expansion is part of the Samaria Regional Council's "Connection Plan," in cooperation with the Amanah movement and the Settlement Division. The plan aims to establish 19 new settlements in northern Samaria, a move framed as a response to the 2005 disengagement, which saw four settlements in the area evacuated.

Yossi Dagan, Head of the Samaria Regional Council, stated that the establishment of Rom Gilboa is a clear answer to the expulsion and uprooting of settlements in northern Samaria, emphasizing the creation of 19 new settlements in place of the four that were evacuated. "In the area from which they used to shoot at Kibbutz Merav, we are establishing a thriving settlement, forever," Dagan said, highlighting that Rom Gilboa strengthens the Israeli presence between northern Samaria, the Gilboa region, and the Jordan Valley.

Yafit Eldar, one of the first residents moving in with her husband and one-year-old son, expressed excitement about being part of establishing a settlement in Israel, comparing the effort to the historical draining of the swamps. The establishment of Rom Gilboa is also part of the council's "Million in Samaria" initiative, aiming to significantly expand settlement in the region.

The establishment of Rom Gilboa follows recent settlements like Shelem, Rechavam, Eival, Emek Dotan, and Noa. Efforts are also underway to renew settlement in Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ge'im, and Kdumim, which were evacuated during the 2005 disengagement.