Malachi Peace Settlement Officially Recognized After 11 Years in West Bank
The Malachi Peace settlement in the Binyamin region of the West Bank has been officially recognized as a permanent community after 11 years of struggle and settlement efforts. A ceremony held on Tuesday marked the completion of the settlement's formal regulation process, attended by families of fallen soldiers Malachi Rosenfeld and Shuli Har Melach, government ministers, Knesset members, settlement leaders, and local residents. The settlement, named in memory of Rosenfeld and Har Melach who were killed in terror attacks, was formally approved by a government decision in 2023, with all regulatory steps finalized in recent weeks.
The origins of the site date back to 1976 with the establishment of the Nahal outpost Mevo Shiloh. Four decades later, pioneering families returned to establish Malachi Peace to strengthen settlement presence in eastern Binyamin. Currently, about 40 families live there. The regional council views Malachi Peace as part of a broader plan to expand the settlement bloc along Alon Road, including new communities like Knafey Shachar and Mitzukei Eretz.
Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, called the event a "moment of historic justice," emphasizing the ongoing commitment to settlement in memory of those who fell. He recounted attending a recent brit milah for the granddaughter of Shuli Har Melach, underscoring the deep meaning of the phrase "in your blood is life." Gantz thanked bereaved families, residents, farmers, pioneers, and ministers such as Settlement Minister Orit Strook and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for their support.
Minister Strook highlighted the settlement's recognition as part of a national shift toward embracing the land, calling Malachi Peace a symbol of love for the country overcoming obstacles. Knesset member Limor Son Har Melach, widow of Shuli Har Melach, described the recognition as both a personal and national milestone, symbolizing life and growth where terror once struck. She said the settlement embodies the triumph of the Jewish people and life over terror.
Settlement chairman Yohanan Rosenzweig expressed gratitude to all who helped establish Malachi Peace and stated the community aims to continue developing alongside local agricultural farms. He emphasized the responsibility to balance settlement growth with farming, hoping Malachi Peace will lead in this effort.
Summary: After 11 years of effort, the Malachi Peace settlement in the West Bank has been officially recognized as a permanent community, honoring the memory of two terror victims and marking a significant milestone for regional settlement expansion.
