Yossi Dagan Receives International Award for Leading Settlement Renewal in Northern West Bank

Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, was honored with the "Brave Leadership of Zion Award" by Pulse of Israel and Tribe 12 Foundation at a ceremony held at the Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. The award recognized Dagan's faith, determination, and leadership in spearheading the revival of settlements in northern Samaria (the northern West Bank).

Due to an urgent cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu was unable to attend, and his international advisor Caroline Glick spoke on his behalf. In his acceptance speech, Dagan reflected on the destruction of his home in Sha-Nur during the 2005 disengagement and credited the award to the tens of thousands who fought against the disengagement law, including pioneers of Homesh, parliamentary advocates, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and the many families committed to resettling northern Samaria.

Dagan outlined ambitious development plans, noting that while four settlements were destroyed 21 years ago, the current initiative aims to establish 18 new communities in the area. He emphasized that this award marks a beginning rather than an end, envisioning tens of thousands of Jews living in northern Samaria and eventual full Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. He also expressed hope for the return to the Gush Katif bloc in Gaza.

Pulse of Israel chairman Avi Abelow, who served in the IDF in Homesh and Sha-Nur and was present in Gush Katif until the disengagement, praised Dagan for transforming national pain into growth and renewal. Abelow called Dagan a leader of the "victory generation," committed to Jewish sovereignty and settlement expansion, and expressed hope for the restoration of Jewish communities in Gaza as a correction to the 2005 disengagement.

Dagan also thanked Pulse of Israel for their Zionist activism and educational efforts promoting settlement in Judea and Samaria.