New Israeli Settlement 'Rom Gilboa' Established in Samaria

A new Israeli settlement, named "Rom Gilboa," was established in the northern Samaria region on Thursday, with the first families moving in. This marks the 11th settlement to be established in the Samaria area in less than a year and the third within the past week. The official inauguration ceremony is scheduled for later today and is expected to be attended by ministers, Knesset members, and public figures.

The settlement is located east of the towns of Ganim and Kadim, near Malkishua and Kibbutz Merav, in a strategic area overlooking the Jordan Valley. This region has previously been a site of shooting attacks against nearby settlements. The establishment of Rom Gilboa is part of the "Connection Plan" led by the Samaria Regional Council, the Amanah movement, and the Settlement Division. This plan aims to establish 19 new settlements in northern Samaria as a response to the four settlements evacuated during the 2005 disengagement plan, and is a key component of the "Million in Samaria" vision.

The initiative is being carried out following decisions by the Israeli cabinet and government, spearheaded by Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Yisrael Katz, along with Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan. Dagan stated that the establishment of 19 new settlements in response to the four evacuated ones is a clear and absolute answer to the disengagement. He emphasized the security and national importance of Rom Gilboa, noting that it strengthens the Israeli presence in the area between northern Samaria, the Jezreel Valley, and the Jordan Valley. "Three settlements a week is a clear statement: the people of Israel are not retreating from their land. We are here to stay, to build and grow, on the way to a million residents in Samaria," Dagan said.

Residents expressed their sense of mission. Yafit Alder, who moved in with her husband and one-year-old son, shared her excitement about being part of establishing a settlement in the Land of Israel, stating, "In 15 years my baby will be able to say he was part of establishing a settlement in the Land of Israel, it's exciting and crazy at the same time." The article notes that this settlement expansion in Judea and Samaria is occurring amidst ongoing political developments in Israel, including investigations related to election funding and coalition formation discussions following the 2026 elections.