IDF Nahal Pioneers Transition From Gaza Combat to Settling Jordan Valley
After 14 months of continuous fighting in Gaza, a group of young Israeli soldiers from the Nahal settlement unit, known as the "Hineni" core, transitioned directly from combat to pioneering settlement work in the Jordan Valley. This unique program, launched about a year ago by the Bnei Akiva movement in partnership with the agricultural organization Chiburim Bechaklaut, was created to strengthen Israel's eastern border following Operation Iron Swords. The soldiers, who enlisted before the October 7 terror attack and fought alongside the Nahal Brigade, dedicated their final service year to settlement and agricultural development missions along the border.
One soldier, Gilad, 22, recalls waking at 3 a.m. to work in a dairy farm in Shdema Makhola, finding solace in the sunrise over the Gilad mountains. Despite the harsh conditions and ongoing security challenges, he and his comrades embraced the dual role of fighters and builders, feeling they had found their place in the national puzzle. Another soldier, Liran, 23, served in an educational role at the Neve Sheria youth village, a former Nahal outpost now focused on rehabilitating youth who dropped out of school. He credits the community support and living with his wife during this period as vital to his mental transition from combat to education.
Naveh, 23, describes the year as a continuous healing process from war to growth, combining agricultural work, youth activities, and cultural engagement. He highlights the camaraderie between two distinct cores from Bnei Akiva and Tarbut movements, who fought together and debated but ultimately bonded deeply. The program culminated in a ceremonial event in the Jordan Valley, marking the revival of the original Nahal model of fighting alongside land cultivation, a practice not seen for decades.
Bnei Akiva Secretary-General Yigal Klein and Chiburim Bechaklaut CEO Brakhiya Rozenberg praised the initiative for proving the pioneering spirit is alive and adding a new layer to Israel’s development. Gilad hopes more Nahal cores will join the Jordan Valley to support agriculture and residents, emphasizing the importance of backing those who settle where they are most needed rather than where it is convenient.
